ID: 1710
Presenting Author: Yusuf Raja
Session: 705 - Navigating Uncertainty in Impact Assessment to Support Expedited Decision-Making
Status: pending
Red Sea Global navigates ESIA uncertainty through proactive tools & strategies, enabling fast tracked ESIA's that balance rapid regenerative tourism development with environmental & social stewardship
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 has catalyzed an unprecedented pace of development. Projects such as those under Red Sea Global (RSG) are emblematic of this transformation, where environmental sustainability must be balanced with ambitious timelines and evolving design strategies. RSG faces the familiar challenge navigating uncertainty in ESIA's while under pressure to accelerate project approvals to meet national development goals.
When dealing with uncertainty RSG adopts a variety of proactive approaches which goes beyond national regulations ensuring environmental and social considerations are embedded into every phase of the project from pre-planning right through to the operations of our tourism destinations.
The insights shared will be particularly relevant to regions undergoing rapid transformation, where balancing speed with stewardship is a critical imperative. To illustrate the approach, the paper will include examples highlighting how RSG applies a variety of methods including lessons learnt across its portfolio to deliver ESIAs that are not only fast tracked, environmentally and socially resilient, but also allows for science-based decision making.
Yusuf has over 23 years experience working across different geographies. He currently leads an Environmental Assessment team at Red Sea Global delivering regenerative tourism projects.
Coauthor 1: Aceel Radi