Dubai hosts Green Dubai World Forum

He was delivering the opening speech at the Green Dubai World Forum at Atlantis Hotel in Palm Jumeirah on Friday. The two-day international forum discussed the significance of turning Dubai's new buildings into green and the impact of climate change and global warming.

The forum, hosted jointly by Dubai Municipality and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and sponsored and organized by Pacific Controls was held in commemoration of the historic declaration on 24 October 2007 by the UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum on the implementation of Green Building Regulation in Dubai from 1st of January 2008 to turn Dubai into a city of the future that has enabled Dubai to take global leadership in sustainable development in light of global climatic change crisis threatening mankind.

Lootah called for a whole range of different measures such as educating the society, changing people's habits, constructing buildings greener, developing new technologies, making the economies more energy efficient, and investing in sustainable and renewable energy sources.

Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, said:

"The world cannot choose between development and environment. We need both. Dubai has a key role in securing a sustainable future. The issues we are addressing at this forum are among the core challenges of our time."

Lootah expresed his happiness to note that the forum will be an annual event, a meeting place for the industry, for the leaders of the world, for the market makers, the decision makers, and for the scientific experts on sustainability and renewable energy.

"The world is facing a serious energy dilemma. Increased use of fossil energy is the main reason why global greenhouse gas emissions have increased so much over the last decades. On the other hand, increased energy use is also one of the main reasons why global welfare has increased so much. The increase of global energy use has helped bring hundreds of millions of people out of poverty," he said.

Lootah siad that under the leadership of Sheikh Mohamed, the Government of Dubai has put the environmental issues at the forefront of its polices as Sheikh Mohammed has approved Dubai's Environment Plan as part of Dubai's Strategic Plan for 2015.

"DM and DEWA, and as part of Dubai's Environmental Plan, are putting together new Green Building regulations. These new regulations will aim to conserve resources and improve the quality of like for the residents of the Emirate. This initiative is the first of its kind in the Middle East, and one of the first in the world, ensuring Dubai's commitment to establish itself as a leader in global issues with direct impact on the future of humanity," he said.

The opening session of the forum was also addressed by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA, F W De Klerk, Nobel Prize Laureate (1993) and former President of South Africa, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World and Dilip Rahulan, Chairman & CEO of Pacific Controls.

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 was also held on Friday.

Christopher O' Donnell, CEO of Nakheel, delivered the key-note address in the second session on Saturday, which was also 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.