World Forum to discuss green buildings, climate change, global warming

To be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Green Dubai World Forum 2008 will be held on 24 and 25 October at Atlantis Hotel on the iconic Palm Jumeira and will be attended by highly-renowned experts from worldwide.

The event, which marks the first anniversary of Dubai Government's resolution on Green Buildings in Dubai, is set to make its mark as an annual feature of Dubai's calendar of mega events.

The forum, to be hosted jointly by Dubai Municipality and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, and sponsored and organized by Pacific Controls, which has set up the first ever platinum rated green building in the city, is held in commemoration of the historic declaration on 24 October 2007 by Sheikh Mohammed that has enabled Dubai to take global leadership in sustainable development in light of global climatic change crisis threatening mankind.

The opening session of the forum will be held from 6 p.m. on Friday, 24 October, and will be addressed by Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), F W De Klerk, Nobel Prize Laureate (1993) and former President of South Africa, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World.

Speakers of this session will highlight the impact of global warming and climate change as well as the significance of the bold initiative of the Dubai Ruler with regard to green buildings.

A fusion music concert, featuring the Indian music icon, K.S Chitra, along with a visual symphony on Green Dubai World Forum by world renowned Mamemo productions, has also been planned.

Christopher O' Donnell, CEO of Nakheel, will deliver the key-note address in the second session which will also be addressed by renowned experts including Paul Hawken, environmentalist entrepreneur, Raymond S. Bradley, professor at the University of Massachusetts and Director of the Climate System Research Center, Jerry Yudelson, leading green building experts in the United States and founder and principal at Yudelson Associates, a consultancy based in Tucson, Arizona, and Essa Al Maidoor, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for Planning and Building Sector.

Commenting on the forum, Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality, said it comes at a time when leading cities around the world are making strenuous efforts to go green and have a sustainable growth.

"The resolution of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is aimed at turning Dubai into a healthy city that meets the demands of best practices and benchmarks of pollution-free sustainable development. It will boost Dubai's continuous efforts to promote global endeavours to face environmental challenges."

he said.

Through implementing this resolution, he noted, Dubai became the first city in the Middle East to adopt green building specifications.

Dubai Municipality is currently finalizing a new legal legislative framework for green design that will be implemented in all new buildings across Dubai from 1 January 2009.

Dilip Rahulan, Chairman & CEO of Pacific Controls, said the dynamics of environmental change have major impact on mankind.

"It is with these events that one could measure and verify these impacts."

he said.