Sustainable development entails a pattern of growth in which economic, social, as well as environmental conditions are equally considered and carefully balanced, leading to living standards for future generations which are no worse off, if not better, than present ones. In this respect, environmental protection and a balanced use of natural resources must constitute an integral part of the development process. In Egypt, as the available natural resources must support a rapidly increasing population, sound management of such resources, together with a continuous improvement of the protection of the environment are an evident necessity.

The Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs (MSEA) with its executive agency, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), meet this challenge by continuously striving for the integration of the environmental dimension into national policies, plans and lines of action. This is carried out with an immediate focus on the reduction of pollution and the conservation of Egypt's natural resources through effective environmental management.