Global experts to discuss 'Green Cities' concept at 'EnviroCities 2010' conference

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 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."

The speakers in the conference include Prof. Spiro N. Pollalis of Harvard University, who will talk about the "challenges in transitions to green cities," Andreas Georgoulias, also of Harvard university, who will give a lecture on "Clean Green Cities," Dr. Mohamed Adel, Egypt, who will present the topic, "Sustainability between Past and Present," Dr. Adam Cade of Sustainability Education Consultancy, Frankfurt, who will give tips on the quality of life in Green cities during his lecture titled, "Lean to Green lifestyles" and Prof. Phil Jones of Cardiff University, Wales, who will present the topic, "Sustainability and the low carbon agenda: "From Buildings to Cities."

Speakers from the UAE include Eng. Essa Al Maidour, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for Engineering and Planning Sector, who will give details about "Green Building Codes in Dubai," Dr. Nawal Hosany from Masdar, who will talk on the subject, "Towards Zero Carbon Cities," Naser Bu Shehab and Mohammed El Hashmi of RTA, who will jointly present a paper on "Green Mass Transport, Fuels, Metro/Hybrid," Sougata Nandi of TECOM, who will deal with the topic, "Green Buildings in Reality" in the Green Success Stories from Built Environment category, Dr. Nabyl Chenaf of American University of Dubai, who will present the case study of St. Maxime in France to portray the "Green Design at the Inception Stages," Dr. Mohsen Aboulnaga, Government Strategy and Policy Advisor, who will present his paper, "Sustainable Cities: Strategy, Elements & Indicators to Counterbalance Climate Change," Prof. Bassam Abuhijleh of the British University in Dubai, who will talk about "Green Retrofitting" and another expert from Dubai Municipality, Narciso Zacarias, who will talk about Cool Green Cities.