EcoCity World Summit (ECWS) 2015 has confirmed a line-up of 13 ministers and government officials as speakers, in addition to 22 subject matter experts, up to a dozen academia, and other visionary leaders from the private sector and civil society.Scheduled to take place in the UAE Capital from 11 to 13 October 2015, members of the public and eco-enthusiasts are encouraged to register and engage with specialists to discuss, create and apply sustainability-enhancing solutions for cities.

As part of the city-wide preparation for the Summit, the ECWS Host Committee members conducted their first official meeting on 19 August with over 15 entities to discuss their anticipated outcomes and collaborative efforts towards the successful launch of the Middle East's first ECWS edition.

ECWS 2015 is hosted by the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi ( EAD ), supported by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Urban Planning Council, Masdar, and facilitated by Abu Dhabi Environmental Data Initiative with Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority as the destination host. "The response to the 11th edition of the Ecocity World Summit
conference series has been tremendous, and we are very much looking forward to the contribution of our list of speakers, and confirmed leaders and delegates from across the globe. By creating an opportunity for dialogue with the greatest minds of this field, we are confident that the Summit will help pave the way for greener cities across the globe," said Ahmed Baharoon, Executive Director of the Environmental Science, Information and Outreach Sectorand Acting Director of AGEDI of Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi .

Among the local ministers and government officials confirmed to be speaking at ECWS is H.E. Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State and Managing Director of Dubai World Expo 2020,who will highlight links between Expo 2020 with the importance of sustainable cities.Dr. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Director for the Energy and Climate Change
Department at the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will discuss the key ingredients of an ecocity,whichH.E. Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, Director General of Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development, will complement by discussing financial innovation and new directions for cities. A welcome and closing speech will be given by H.E.Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi .

Meanwhile, at the regional and international level, confirmed speakers compriseDr. Mostafa Madbouly, Egyptian Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities,who will shed light on the New Cairo discussion, and Alberto Marta­n Barandiaran Gomez, Advisor to the Vice Ministry of Natural Resources at the Environmental Ministry of Peru,who will present a Lima case on Building in Hot and Arid Climates - Challenges and Innovation.Dasho Dr. Sonam Tenzin, Secretary at Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, Bhutan willalso speak, discussing his country's
Gross National Happiness Index, while from Europe, ECWS Advisory Committee member and Mayor of City of Freiburg, Germany, Dr. Dieter Salomon, will present global case studies on one planet solutions. TaharTolba, General Manager of Environment and Sustainable Development at the Ministry of Land Planning & Environment in Algeria, will also speaking at the event, among others.

The Summit has a diverse array of subject matter experts and academia leading the issues around four themes. Within the Urban Systems, Footprints, and Metabolism theme, for example, speakers include Aziza Chaouni, Principal of Aziza Chaouni Projects and Assistant Professor, Architecture at John H Daniels School of Architecture, Landscape and Design at University, who will discuss the Water-Energy-Food-Climate Nexus; Sanjay Sridhar, C40 Cities, Regional Director, South and West Asia, who will share his organisation's efforts to disseminate ecocity innovations; and Sue Riddleston, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of Bioregional Development Group, London, who will be discussing one planet solutions and measuring impact to facilitate decision-making.

Within this theme, experts will share tangible solutions aimed at improving urban systems - developing systems that make things work. More specifically, topics will include innovation in reducing cities' carbon footprints; contributing to a healthier metabolism through reducing food waste; educating the population about the benefits of
sustainability; developing integrated and more eco-friendly water and energy solutions; and promoting realistic financing schemes for green architecture.

The Summit will further feature special workshops, including the Sustainable Urban Indicators and Frameworks Roundtable - a three-part workshop intended as a collaboration platform of leading voices in the urban indicators and frameworks community - and the City Form and Resource Flows Workshop, which will provide a strong discussion on the architecture, urban planning and systems analysis and the best ways to capture and organise data in a creative, realistic and efficient manners.

Being part of ECWS 2015 allows complimentary access to related early bird field trips and selected weekend excursions prior to the Summit, and a complimentary invitation to the Welcome Reception at Masdar City.
 

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