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French Experts Offer Integrated Strategies to Enhance Sustainability of World Cities
- Foreign trade minister Ms Nicole Bricq to open half-day workshop at Sustainable Living Expo during World Future Energy Summit
- Government officials to present new VIVAPOLIS concept
ABU DHABI, UAE, Jan 15, 2014 - (ACN Newswire) - Ms Nicole Bricq, the French Minister for Foreign Trade, will open a series of high-level presentations on effective strategies to make the world's cities more sustainable, on January 21, day two of the 7th World Future Energy Summit, hosted by Masdar.
With 60% of the world's population expected to live in cities by 2020 and the urban landscape accounting for as much as 75% of world energy consumption and an ever larger share of water demand and greenhouse gas emissions, the scale of the modern-day sustainability challenge requires a holistic approach, the experts argue.
Specialists from leading French industry, government and NGOs will present their insights and experiences on the subject in an interactive session titled 'The Integrated Approach for Sustainable Cities', hosted at the Sustainable Living Expo Theatre on the WFES exhibition floor.
Officials from the French Ministry of Foreign Trade will present VIVAPOLIS, a groundbreaking approach integrating sustainability across the energy, water, waste and transportation sectors.
Supported by the French Embassy in the UAE and the French trade commission UBIFRANCE, the workshop will also host a series of informative and thought-provoking presentations from a cross-section of French business leaders, environmental specialists and industry consultants, including experts from the French Agency for Environment and Energy Management; Alstom Grid; Areva Renewables; Suez Environment; Third Millenium Water; Environnement SA; Microhumus; and DISASOLAR.
To be held from 11:00am to 2:30pm, the workshop is free to registered visitors and attendees.
"The Energy Challenge will be won or lost in cities," said Regis Largillier, Smart City Business Development Manager of Schneider Electric, who will present a paper titled 'Innovation and Collaboration for Smarter and More Resilient Cities'.
"In the urban context, adopting technology to use energy and natural resources more efficiently is as much a part of the solution as adopting cleaner sources of energy. To achieve that, we at Schneider Electric, as a global specialist in energy management working with more than 200 cities around the globe, believe no single company can solve a city's challenges alone. We advocate flexible, customised and localised solutions, developed with best-in-class global and local partners."
Dr Lawrence Jones of Alstom Grid will speak on 'Building Resilient Infrastructures for a Sustainable Future'.
"The infrastructure of our cities, whether for transport or reliable power generation or delivery, must not be overlooked in the transition towards sustainable development," he said. "As a world leader in power generation, power transmission and smart transport, Alstom is attending WFES to share its extensive knowledge in developing smart solutions that address the increasingly complex and inter-connected nature of sustainability challenges."
'The Integrated Approach for Sustainable Cities' workshop takes place at the Sustainable Living Expo (SLE), which returns to the World Future Energy Summit for a second year.
In partnership with Abu Dhabi Electricity Water and Electricity Authority, the SLE will host an actual-size home showcasing technologies and materials that reduce power and water consumption and lower emissions.
The show home will appear alongside a prototype hotel suite also adopting sustainable technologies and processes, sponsored by Rotana Hotels and designed and built by Genesis Manazil.
"Reducing the demand for energy and natural resources of our cities is of paramount concern, an issue the Sustainable Living Expo will once again bring into sharp focus," said Naji El Haddad, WFES Show Director. "The insights and practical experience of leading experts from France will make a significant contribution to the sustainable cities debate at this year's WFES."
The seventh annual World Future Energy Summit takes place from January 20-22 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Last year's Summit received more than 26,000 attendees and 650 exhibiting companies from 40 countries.
As the centerpiece of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the Emirate's global platform for the acceleration and widespread adoption of sustainable development and renewable energy, WFES expects to receive 30,000 attendees this year.
WFES 2014 will be co-located with the second International Water Summit and the inaugural EcoWASTE exhibition, also hosted by Masdar.
Contact:Naji El Haddad
Show Director - WFES
E: naji.haddad@reedexpo.ae
T: +971 2 4090 499
Nathan Wilson
Asda'a Burson-Marsteller
E: nathan.wilson@bm.com
T: +971 2 6334 133
Source: World Future Energy Summit (WFES)
Sectors: Environment, ESG, Alternative Energy
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