ID: 15
Presenting Author: Jasmine Pereira
Status: pending
Culturally responsive environmental planning and impact assessment in the Middle East by use of indirect methods in absence of formal public consultation.
In the Middle East, rapid urbanization and infrastructure expansion demand robust environmental planning and impact assessment frameworks to guide sustainable development. However, conventional approaches often underrepresent the sociocultural dimensions that shape environmental outcomes.
Drawing on case studies, the poster will present how Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) practices in the region, particularly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), are adapted to better reflect local values in contexts where direct public consultation is limited.
The poster will highlight the alternative or indirect culturally attuned methods that serve as proxies for direct public engagement that align with local norms and formal regulatory structures to contribute to more context-aware, equitable, and effective environmental decision-making across the Middle East. By embedding cultural responsiveness into assessment processes, practitioners can enhance inclusivity, counter misinformation, and bridge knowledge gaps.
Jasmine Pereira is a Lead Environmental Consultant in Dubai, specializing in strategic and culturally responsive environmental planning and impact assessment in the Middle East.