Strategic Environmental Assessment and Urban Planning in Egypt

Like most developing countries, Egypt has been undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization. Recently, Egypt is progressing in many planning sectors; nevertheless, it is argued that there have been many undesired effects on the environment resulted from these development processes. In fact, it could be said that development processes, as a result of national policy over the past three decades, have been associated with the extensive exploitation of natural resources for urban growth. Since sustainable development or sustainability has been highlighted as an essential principle in development planning, it is deemed necessary to modify the existing planning systems so as to cope with the challenges various developments are being confronted with and realize the purpose of sustainability. Thus, in order for better environmental policy and decision making this book advocates that SEA is the right way towards achieving more sustainable patterns of development. It is felt that the major contribution is to propose a model to incorporate SEA process within the spatial planning process in the country.