Based on the lecture and discussions in the session, please:
Select two challenges (preferable a national and a regional one) that Egypt is facing and describe the efforts done so far if any.
Identify the gap between the invested effort and the existing situation, then
Suggest three development strategies that could help mitigate each climate problem you identified.
Your response is suggested to be a ½ to a one page. It shall be posted on the UES Course Website
Urban & Environmental Studies 
— Group members:
Mostafa Hegazi, Ehab Abdullah, Abdelrahman Hassan, Ihab Attia, Laila El Nofely, Shady Hanafy, Mohab Moataz, Mariam Nagib, Yasmin Gamal and Deena Khashaab
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Local Problem:
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“Poor drainage system especially during rainy days/ special seasons”
Due to fact that Egypt does not have frequent heavy rains in most of its areas, the government did not address this problem as a priority to invest in.
People continue to suffer from road closures and heavy traffic jams during rainy winter days. Some areas are suffering a lot more than others such as those near to the north and east coasts.
Some efforts have been made to have dedicated drainage for rain-water such as Alexandria rain drainage system and similarly in some areas in East Cairo.
Extending these efforts across the country over phases using the experience of existing solutions, should be adopted nationwide whilst prioritising by the most exposed areas to heavy rains.
To ensure sustainable solutions, continuous assessments, analysis, maintenance, insights and short/long-term projections are crucial.
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Global Problem:
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“Fresh water scarcity is an increasing global crisis”
3% of the world’s water is fresh water of which 2/3 is stored in frozen glaciers. Hence, the strain on fresh water is caused by overuse of water, increasing demand, pollution, poor management and most importantly changes in weather patterns due to global warming. As a result, more than a billion people lack worldwide access to water.
Some of the solutions:
– Raising awareness in order for people to take personal accountability on their usage habits.
– Collaboration between neighbouring countries to supply water subject to supply and demand; e.g. Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia
– Revisit pricing model for water supply in order for people to use water cautiously
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Group members: Moustafa Hegazi, Ehab Abdullah, Abdelrahman Hassan, Ihab Attia, Laila El Nofely, Shady Hanafy, Mohab Moataz, Mariam Nagib, Yasmin Gamal and Deena Khashaab
Firstly and generally, we’d like to emphasise the undebatable fact that water is one of the fundamental requirements for human lives and survival. Hence, one of the main drawbacks resulting from the scarcity or lack of water leads to health problems due to poor water sanitation. This problem has arisen due to:
– population growth,
– urbanization, and
– migration
Some of the basic solutions to water crisis, which are a no brainer but certainly call for immediate action, attention and awareness:
– educate people, young and old, on water consumption,
– invent / inject new water conservation technologies,
– recycle wastewater and
Next, let’s zoom in on the local problem; “poor drainage system especially during rainy days/ special seasons”.
Due to fact that Egypt does not have frequent heavy rains in most of its areas, the government did not address this problem as a priority to invest in.
People continue to suffer from road closures and heavy traffic jams during rainy winter days. Some areas are suffering a lot more than others such as those near to the north and east coasts.
Some efforts have been made to have dedicated drainage for rain-water such as Alexandria rain drainage system and similarly in some areas in East Cairo.
Extending these efforts across the country over phases using the experience of existing solutions, should be adopted nationwide whilst prioritising by the most exposed areas to heavy rains.
To ensure sustainable solutions, continuous assessments, analysis, maintenance, insights and short/long-term projections are crucial.
And finally, link to the global problem; “fresh water scarcity is an increasing global crisis”.
3% of the world’s water is fresh water of which 2/3 is stored in frozen glaciers. Hence, the strain on fresh water is caused by overuse of water, increasing demand, pollution, poor management and most importantly changes in weather patterns due to global warming. As a result, more than a billion people lack worldwide access to water.
Some of the solutions:
– Raise awareness for people to take personal accountability on their usage habits; probably engage corporations and organisations to work closely with governments to raise this awareness in schools, universities, homes, etc.
– Collaborate between neighbouring countries to supply water subject to supply and demand; e.g. Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia
– Revisit pricing model for water supply for people to use water cautiously.
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