WWF, Abu Dhabi unveil plans for sustainable city
By Bustler Editors|
Monday, Jan 14, 2008
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WWF and Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Initiative unveil plan for world’s first carbon-neutral, waste-free, car-free city
Masdar City†to be flagship of WWF One Planet Living Programme
For immediate release—The WWF and Masdar, The Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, today launched a “Sustainability Action Plan†to deliver the world’s greenest city – Masdar City.
Masdar City will be the world’s first zero-carbon, zero-waste, car-free city, aiming to exceed the 10 sustainability principles of “One Planet Livingâ„¢â€â€“ a global initiative launched by the WWF (known internationally as the Worldwide Fund for Nature and in the U.S. as the World Wildlife Fund) and environmental consultancy BioRegional.
Housed in six-square kilometres, Masdar City’s electricity will be generated by photovoltaic panels, while cooling will be provided via concentrated solar power. Water will be provided through a solar-powered desalination plant. Landscaping within the city and crops grown outside the city will be irrigated with grey water and treated waste water produced by the city’s water treatment plant.
The city is part of the Masdar Initiative, Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted investment in the exploration, development and commercialisation of future energy sources and clean technology solutions. The city, growing eventually to 1,500 businesses and 50,000 residents, will be home to international business and top minds in the field of sustainable and alternative energy
A model of the Masdar City will be unveiled on January 21, at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. Ground breaks for the construction of the city in Q1 2008.
Jean-Paul Jeanrenaud, Director of WWF International’s One Planet Living initiative, said: â€Today Abu Dhabi is embarking on a journey to become the global capital of the renewable energy revolution. Abu Dhabi is the first hydrocarbon-producing nation to have taken such a significant step towards sustainable living.
“Masdar is an example of the paradigm shift that is needed. The strategic vision of the Abu Dhabi government is a case study in global leadership. We hope that Masdar City will prove that sustainable living can be affordable and attractive in all aspects of human living – from businesses and manufacturing facilities to universities and private homes,†Jeanreneaud continued.
Dr. Sultan al Jaber, CEO of the Masdar Initiative, said: “Masdar City will question conventional patterns of urban development, and set new benchmarks for sustainability and environmentally friendly design – the students, faculty and businesses located in Masdar City will not only be able to witness innovation first-hand, but they will also participate in its development.â€
“We are pleased to be able to work with One Planet Living to make our vision a reality,†he said.
Pooran Desai OBE, co-founder of BioRegional and Technical Director of the One
Planet Living Communities programme, said Masdar would be the largest and the most advanced sustainable communities in the world.
“The vision of One Planet Living is a world where people everywhere can lead happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the Earth’s resources. Masdar gives us a breathtaking insight into this positive, alternative future.
“In realising the goal of a sustainable future, Masdar is committed to surpassing the One Planet Living Program’s Ten Guiding Principles, covering issues that range from how waste is dealt with to the energy performance of the buildings.â€
The One Planet Living programme is based on 10 unique principles of sustainability. Masdar City will meet and exceed each of these, as detailed below.
These targets are to be achieved by the time the Masdar City is completed and fully functioning in 2015.
In June 2007, Masdar City received the first World Clean Energy Award from the Transatlantic21 Association in Basel, Switzerland. In September 2007, the city’s design was voted “Sustainable Region/ City of the Year†at Euromoney and Ernst & Young’s Global Renewable Energy Awards.
For more information on more information about WWF’s One Planet Living initiative, please visit www.panda.org/oneplanetliving or contact Eduardo Goncalves at WWF International on +44 792 202 6447
For more information about Masdar City and the Masdar Initiative, please visit www.masdaruae.com. For high-resolution renderings of Masdar City please contact Laura Misselbrook ph: +44 207 344 1285 or + 44 7789 887 889 e: [email protected] or Kirstin McKellar ph: +44 207 344 1277 e: [email protected]
For information on the BioRegional One Planet Living communities, please visit www.bioregional.com or contact Pooran Desai at BioRegional on +44 790 358 9503
For more information about the World Future Energy Summit, hosted by Masdar, please visit www.wfes08.com.
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