|
||||||||||||
Global Experts To Discuss ’Green Cities’ Concept At ’EnviroCities 2010’ Conference |
||||||||||||
|
An array of international experts will be exchanging ideas and discussing recent green city initiatives across the region in a conference to be organised by the Environmental Centre for Arab Towns (ECAT), in cooperation with Dubai Municipality and Harvard University School of Public Health end of this month in Dubai. The second international conference, EnviroCities 2010, under the title, ’Green Cities,’ will be held on 28-29 November 2010 at Intercontinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City. The conference, to be held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Chairman of Dubai Municipality, is expected to bring together more than 500 delegates including leading figures in the field from around the world. This was announced in a press conference by Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, in the presence of Obaid Salem Al Shamsi, Assistant Director General for International Affairs and Partnerships Sector, Eng. Hamdan Al Shaer, Director of Environment Department, who is also chairman of the Scientific Committee of the conference and Eng. Mohammed Al Noori, Director of ECAT. The website of the conference was also launched during the press conference. Lootah said "Green Cities" is a modern global concept, drawn out from various sustainable engineering and environmental ideas and practices like the Green Buildings, Sustainable Transport, Afforestation, Renewable Energy and Green Economy. "With two-thirds of the humanity expected to live in cities by 2050, the future of our lives and the generations to come is dependent upon our care and concern for our cities. Today’s cities witness a residential and industrial boom that lead to increased emissions of air pollutants, augmented production of waste, lack of vegetation, the loss of biodiversity and other negative effects that threaten life on Earth," he said adding that it is therefore indispensable for all who are associated with cities of the future, to have a fine understanding of the green city concepts, standards and tools to achieve and maintain a safe, healthy and sustainable city environment. "Green Buildings provide a safe and healthy environment, in addition to comfort and economic benefits. Sustainable Transport aims at low footprint means of transport, enhanced mass transport networks that reduce air pollution and thereby adverse impacts from global warming," said Lootah. "Afforestation and permanent attention to greenery reduce the rate of environmental pollution. Afforestation and the establishment of the parks have also become the features that reflect the civilization of nations and progress of people," he said. Lootah said Renewable Energy is an opportunity for a better life because it is energy derived from natural resources, which is renewable and cannot be depleted or exhausted and is also clean and cheap. He said Green Economy includes sustainable economic policies and activities that prevent resource depletion, and environmental degradation, and it creates green jobs and ensures real sustainable economic growth with the aim of becoming green prosperous cities. Noori said the ECAT has joined hands with the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) to bring together a panel of the best environmental experts from all over the world who will discuss the various aspects of the Green Cities concept. He said the conference will be covering a wide spectrum of topics such as "Green City Goals, Policies, Indicators, Green City Branding," "Green Management of Land, Energy, Water and Wastes," "Green Future Cities/Zero Carbon Cities," "Green Building Codes," "Cool Green Cities - Urban Heat Islands, impacts and solutions," "Success Stories from Built Environment," "Green Transport," "Green Hotels," "Green Lifestyles" and "Green Economy."
|
||||||||||||
