Live Green Now

I personally think of Dubai as somewhat of an environmental nightmare-what with the creation of a ski hill in the desert, etc.....but recently I have read a few articles on how the country is apparently attempting to implement some measures to reduce its environmental impacts.  If the measures are "real" as opposed to "paper" initiatives, then the green revolution really is spreading I guess.  Dubai World's, a holding company that manages the portfolio of projects for the Government, has apparently decided to create a Middle East Centre for Sustainable Development. The centre will help Middle Eastern developers get the same  'Green Building' certification as US developers under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System.

 

The LEED Rating System is the international benchmark for the sustainable design, construction, and operation of environmentally friendly buildings.  Ahmed Abdul Hussain, CEO of The Environment, Health and Safety regulatory arm of Dubai World, says that the centre " is the manifestation of our core mission, which is to create and sustain a cleaner, healthier environment, and a more eco-friendly country".

 

Taking part in the LEED program is part of Dubai's Strategic Plan for 2015, which aims to conserve resources in order to ensure future growth.  The Centre for Sustainable Development headquarters building is the first Platinum rated green building accredited by the LEED programme in the Middle East and sixteenth in the world.

 

It is a nice change to see the country that built a ski hill in the middle of the desert taking part in sustainable development initiatives..... but will have to monitor to see what really happens!

 

(Sustainable development launched - Express, Oct 28 all cited figures and quotes are from Express, Oct 28)