WWF, Abu Dhabi unveil plans for sustainable city

WWF 13 Jan 08;

London, January 13: WWF and the government of Abu Dhabi today launched a Sustainability Strategy to deliver the world’s greenest city.

Masdar City will be the world’s first zero-carbon, zero-waste, car-free city, meeting or exceeding a set of stringent sustainability goals established under the “One Planet Living” programme established by WWF and environmental consultancy BioRegional.

In a first for a city scale project, Masdar City's delivery on these targets is to be the subject of independent and public assessment. Another key undertaking differentiating Masdar City is the commitment to minimise any ec will be the world’s first zero-carbon, zero-waste, car-free city. Through the “One Planet Living™” programme, a global initiative launched by WWF and environmental consultancy BioRegional, WWF will work with Masdar to ensure the city meets standards of sustainability which include specific targets for the city’s ecological footprint.

Masdar City plans to exceed the criteria of the programme, making it a global benchmark for sustainable urban development. Masdar's delivery on these targets will be independently and publicly verified, a point of distinction with developments outside the One Planet Living framework.

The electricity for the six square kilometre city 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. Ground breaks for the construction of the city in early 2008.

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. A model of Masdar City will be unveiled on January 21, at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.

Jean-Paul Jeanrenaud, Director of WWF International’s One Planet Living initiative, said, ”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 and 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.”

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.”

“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 one of 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 achieving 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.”

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 2012.

One Planet Living principle Masdar Target

ZERO CARBON 100 per cent of energy supplied by renewable energy – Photovoltaics, concentrated solar power, wind, waste to energy and other technologies

ZERO WASTE 99 per cent diversion of waste from landfill (includes waste reduction measures, re-use of waste wherever possible, recycling, composting, waste to energy)

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT Zero carbon emissions from transport within the city; implementation of measures to reduce the carbon cost of journeys to the city boundaries (through facilitating and encouraging the use of public transport, vehicle sharing, supporting low emissions vehicle initiatives)

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS Specifying high recycled materials content within building products; tracking and encouraging the reduction of embodied energy within material sand throughout the construction process; specifying the use of sustainable materials such as Forest Stewardship Council certified timber, bamboo and other products
SUSTAINABLE FOOD Retail outlets to meet targets for supplying organic food and sustainable and or fair trade products

SUSTAINABLE WATER Per capita water consumption to be at least 50 per cent less than the national average; all waste water to be re-used

HABITATS AND WILDLIFE All valuable species to be conserved or relocated with positive mitigation targets

CULTURE AND HERITAGE Architecture to integrate local values.

EQUITY AND FAIR TRADE Fair wages and working conditions for all workers (including construction) as defined by international labour standards

HEALTH AND HAPPINESS Facilities and events for every demographic group

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.

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