Top world environmentalist to address Dubai eco tech forum

Bellamy, the President of 11 environmental organisations and Vice President of a further four, will head a prominent speaker platform at the conference, which will coincide with the Gulf's main power industry trade show Middle East Electricity.

The UK-government supported conference will run at the Dubai World Trade Centre on February 5th and see UK experts probe a number of critical regional issues including pollution, waste management and renewable energy.

Prof. Bellamy, the author of 45 books and presenter of over 400 TV programmes on botany, ecology and the environment, is to investigate renewable energy opportunities in developing an eco-tourism infrastructure.

"David's expertise includes the eco-tourism sector and while the link with the power industry may initially seem vague, the hospitality sector, in particular, is a huge energy consumer and generates considerable amounts of waste. The utilisation of new and alternative energy and waste technology, which will be on show at Middle East Electricity, is paramount in fulfilling the region's growing desire for an eco-tourism base," said conference organiser Mike Cobb of Trade Partners UK, a government-backed organisation that helps UK firms secure overseas sales.

Other conference speakers include representatives of Britain's Department of Trade & Industry (DTI); the Joint Environmental Markets Unit, a UK government body charged with promoting sustainable development, cleaner technologies and environmental best practice; the British Oil Spill Control Association; the Environmental Services Association, the trade body for the UK's waste management industry and BP Solar.

"The calibre of Prof. Bellamy and the other speakers is a clear indication of how seriously the UK takes the Middle East market and its willingness to share its internationally recognised expertise in this field," said Cobb.

The conference is part of a new Middle East Electricity initiative, which will see the show host its Water and Environment Technology (WET) arena.

"The future of energy generation and the environment are inextricably linked and together the arena and the conference will up-date professionals on the latest techniques of addressing both successfully," said Sarah Woodbridge, Project Manager, Middle East Electricity 2002.