Towards a 21st Century post carbon urbanised society

This comes at a very opportune time as the world faces its biggest challenge, climate change.

The sheer volume of the resources that is needed to meet and sustain the needs of an ever growing population takes its toll on the capacity of the planet to produce and absorb our waste in all forms.

It is also contributing to massive emission of green house gases in the atmosphere accounting for anthropogenic causes of further global warming.

According to Mr. Lee Morris, resource speaker of the community lecture, the hypothesis shows 'how mankind has come through the first half of the 21st Century and how it is coping with the fundamental lifestyle changes in the socio- economic, post carbon world. This is a world, perhaps, where one of the major changes will be in the fundamental limit of 'personal choice', certainly with regards to such things as 'travel' and the intrinsic integration of technology in all areas of our daily existence. It may also necessitate a return back to the basics of life that our predecessors enjoyed; self sufficiency, closely integrated communities living in mixed use developments, where living, working and playing is not a strap line, but the only way of life; a return to the values of nature.'

Mrs. Habiba Al Marashi, EEG Chairperson, said, "The topic is highly relevant to the UAE as it is experiencing growth in the region never before seen in recent years. This type of growth has its benefits as well as setbacks. It will depend on the lifestyle choices of people, clear policies from the government and the voluntary initiative of companies to move the country towards sustainability. All of us have a hard decision to make for the environment and our future."

Mrs. Al Marashi also took the occasion to announce and invite everyone to EEG's Can Collection Drive on 29th May 2008 at selected sites across the 7 Emirates.

The 11th cycle of the Can Collection Drive promises to be the biggest one to be conducted by the Group. She noted that the need for recycling and efficient use of resources will always be an imperative now and in the future.

Lee Morris is the Design Director of WS Atkins & Partners Overseas.

He has designed amongst others, The Executive Towers development and the Award winning Sales Centre in Business Bay, The Dolce and Gabana Residents in Dubai Marina and is currently lead designer on the Trump International Hotel and Tower and the QE2 Hotel Terminal Development at the centre of The Palm Jumeirah.

Lee Morris studied architecture at The Birmingham and Kingston Schools of Architecture in the UK, receiving the RIBA silver medal for his final year dissertation and gaining a distinction for his diploma portfolio.

He has worked with different companies assigned in countries like Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Australia to name a few.

The lecture is part of EEG' ongoing initiative to inform and educate different stakeholders of the community on relevant environmental issues and concerns.

This program is held every year since the late 1990s, with close to a hundred lectures so far conducted.

Mr. Morris was awarded a crystal for his contribution to the Community Lecture series.

EEG also awarded certificates of membership to distinguished companies which recently joined EEG. Finally Mrs. Al Marashi thanked sponsors Emarat Atrium for the venue and Abela & Co. for the refreshments.