Ecocity World Summit 2015 launches in Abu Dhabi

(Abu Dhabi) – Ecocity World Summit (ECWS), the longest-running international conference series on sustainable cities, officially launched at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). Running until 13 October 2015, the Summit has mobilised local, regional and global leaders and experts to collaborate and exchange ideas and experiences that will guide the development of ecocities in challenging environments.
The event is being led by the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) and supported by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the Urban Planning Council (UPC) and Masdar, and is facilitated by Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI) with Abu Dhabi Tourism & Cultural Authority (TCA) as the destination host.
Leading the opening ceremony, Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State and Director General of EXPO 2020 Dubai Bureau, said: “The Ecocity – just like all cities – and just like Expo 2020, is far more than bricks, mortar and steel. It is an idea. When people become sufficiently excited about that idea, they move to that city. That has always been true – just as it is today – with Dubai and Abu Dhabi.” She added “So the question is not ‘Should we be building for the future?’ But ‘How should we be building for the future?’ And part of the answer comes from the confluence of new technologies, unprecedented sharing of knowledge, faster processing and endless worldwide innovation. All of which has created a new wave in urban design.”
(Courtesy WAM)