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UAE seeks to ditch oil for alternative energy
The previously negative attitude of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to climate change shifted in 2007, as the UAE led several members of the organisation to take a positive lead in developing alternative energies, and began investment in technologies like carbon capture and carbon storage. "Abu Dhabi is now selling an environmentally-conscious image and wants to be a leader in alternative energy,"the UAE has made a significant shift in its thinking when it ceased to be frightened of the consequences of both climate change and climate change mitigation.Up till 2007the UAE had focused on its vulnerability to climate change mitigation as world markets moved to accommodate the new measures to combat climate change.
These would impact the UAE mainly through a highly variable oil price, and possible long-term shift away from use of hydro-carbons, both damaging to the present economy of the UAE.The UAE had also has largely ignored the future impact of climate change on its national security, from the potential threats of rising temperatures, falling water resources, and potentially elevated sea levels.The old style of thinking was still present as recently as December 2007 when the UAE's address to the UN conference on climate change in Bali was mostly full of progressive thinkingexcept for the section that argued that the interests of economies based principally on fossil fuels had not been sufficiently addressed in the negotiations, and demanded that no additional obligations should be placed on developing countries that would impede their development.
In the last six months, however, the impact of the UAE's interest in alternative technologies has come to the fore, exemplified by the launch of Abu Dhabi's Masdar project earlier this year. Masdar is made up of various projects on alternative energy and carbon management, and included building a "totally green city" of 50,000 residents and 1,500 businesses by 2016.
The previously negative attitude of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to climate change shifted in 2007, as the UA... more -
Abu Dhabi Masdar, zero carbon city.
"In April, 2006, the government of Abu Dhabi launched the Masdar Initiative, a landmark program to establish an entirely new economic sector dedicated to alternative and sustainable energy.
The Masdar Initiative offers a proactive response to today's energy and environmental challenges and is being driven by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (ADFEC), a company wholly-owned by the government of Abu Dhabi through Mubadala Development Company. "
The planned Masdar City, which means "the source" in Arabic, will be the home to some 47,500 residents.
Masdar City is to be multi-level, with a light rail on one level moving people in and out of the city with pedestrians at ground level. In addition to solar power, wind turbines and waste-to-energy plants will be employed to generate power. "In April, 2006, the government of Abu Dhabi launched the Masdar Initiative, a landmark program to establish an entirely new economic ... more -
Green city to rise in the desert
Emirate Abu Dhabi is moving ahead with a large-scale project to build Masdar City -- a "green city" near the Abu Dhabi airport. Masdar City, expected to cost $20 billion and ten years to complete, will be a unique urban project that will be car-free, solar-powered, and feature advanced recycling facilities. Residents and visitors will get around on a light-rail system powered by solar energy in an eco-friendly city constructed with a contemporary design aesthetic. Read more in Craig and Marc Kielburger's contribution on this story in the Toronto Star. Emirate Abu Dhabi is moving ahead with a large-scale project to build Masdar City -- a "green city" near the Abu Dhabi airport. Masdar... more
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L.A. and San Francisco vie for title of 'greenest city'
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has a plan to slash his city's planet-warming greenhouse gases to 35% below the 1990 level by 2030, and make L.A. the "cleanest and greenest city in the country."
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has a blueprint to cut his city's greenhouse gases to 20% below the 1990.
Today, the L.A. City Council will hold a public hearing and vote on Villaraigosa’s proposal to make private developers meet nationally-developed green building standards. Next month, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will act on Newsom’s proposed building ordinance.
Which is stricter? San Francisco's, by a long shot.
Which will remove more carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere? Los Angeles' -- but only because it's a bigger city, with a population approaching 4 million; San Francisco's population is under 800,000.
By and large, city governments can't control gas-guzzling SUVs, devastated forests and big industrial pollution, all of which are major causes of global warming. On the other hand, the built environment is their bailiwick. Buildings account for an estimated 43% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., compared with 32% from transportation and 25% from industry level by 2012, creating "the greenest large city in the United States of America."
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has a plan to slash his city's planet-warming greenhouse gases to 35% below the 1990 level by 2... more -
Greenest City in Britain is Bradford
Congratulations to this Yorkshire mill city for its success in healing the environmental blight caused by it's role in the industrial revolution. And among the ranks:
#2 - Edinburgh
#10- London
#20 - Liverpool
Where does your city stand? And how are you doing your part? Congratulations to this Yorkshire mill city for its success in healing the environmental blight caused by it's role in the industrial ... more -
Masdar poised to be worlds first totally green community
Abu Dhabi officials have scheduled the 6 Square Kilometer area to be open in 2009. Their goal is to have a zero carbon footprint for the entire community Abu Dhabi officials have scheduled the 6 Square Kilometer area to be open in 2009. Their goal is to have a zero carbon footprint for t... more
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