Analysis for European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Countries and the Russian Federation on social and economic benefits of enhanced environmental protection – Egypt Country Report
Egypt faces several challenges in all its environmental sectors: air, water, waste and nature. These issues are mostly a result of human activities and will be intensified by climate change. It also has valuable natural heritage – its coastal areas and coral reefs – that are a driver of the economy. Safeguarding these assets will be important for unique biodiversity, local and regional development, livelihoods and wellbeing.
There are considerable benefits from taking immediate action to address the environmental problems facing Egypt. These include improvements to health and reductions in mortality, economic savings and the potential for new economic opportunities, and widespread gains in community well-being. This report provides a first look at the potential social and economic value stemming from these improvements across environmental sectors. The numbers cited in this report are indicative only, based on a rapid assessment often using limited data and many assumptions. While more detailed assessments should be encouraged to be carried out in the future, it is expected that this report can already help to support sound decision-making on environmental issues.
This executive summary of the benefit assessment report for Egypt that has been prepared by a team consisting of an EU expert and a national expert, using a Benefit Assessment Manual developed under the project. This Benefit Assessment Manual which was originally for internal use only, has been turned into a Benefit Assessment Manual for Policy Makers for wider dissemination. The Manual provides an understanding of the methodologies applied for the benefit assessment.