Details of a sustainable city based on the principles of eco-friendly infrastructure and energy consumption will be unveiled next week in UAE before an audience of high level UAE government and business leaders.

Cool City will incorporate the latest green technology in transport, urban development and architecture with a low carbon footprint.

The city is being promoted by the Sustainable Urban Development Consortium for Japan and Gulf States Partnership (SDCJ), orchestrated by Nikken Sekkei. The delegation consists of numerous top Japanese business leaders, government advisers and other technical experts.

To be unveiled at two separate presentations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai on November 4 and 5 respectively, Cool City consumes up to 60 per cent less energy than a conventional urban area by using cutting-edge technologies already tried and tested in Japan.

“This is not just about concepts but specific and detailed technical proposals which Japan wishes to share with the United Arab Emirates,” said Mitsuo Nakamura, consortium representative and president and CEO of Nikken Sekkei Ltd, one of the world’s largest architectural design firms.

Demonstrating the importance SDCJ, Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chairman of the Court of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has confirmed his patronage of the Abu Dhabi event, whilst Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Executive Council has endorsed the Dubai event.

The symposiums feature a total of 11 world-class organisations including Nikken Sekkei, Sanyo, Toshiba, Hitachi, Panasonic and other influential Japanese companies. Giving the keynote speech at both events will be Dr Kiyoshi Kurokawa, special advisor on Science, Technology and Innovation to the Japanese Cabinet and former president of the Science Council of Japan.

“Japan is a leader in effective utilisation of energy. We aim to provide government officials, investors, developers, public and private sector companies in the United Arab Emirates with a unique opportunity to meet and share hands-on experience with leading Japanese experts in these fields,” added Nakamura.

Following the oil crisis in the seventies and Japan’s over dependence on imported fossil fuels, Japan allocated substantial resources towards energy saving initiatives. Since then Japan has pioneered research into energy and environmental technology and its success has led to Japan’s consumption of primary energy per GDP being only half the average of OECD countries and more than 70 per cent less than the world average. Its core competence in this field has given top Japanese engineering companies a competitive edge and has contributed to global demand for their cutting-edge technology.

The energy policy is high on the UAE government agenda, with solar and wind power as two obvious potential candidates. According to the Japanese consortium, Cool City will provide key solutions to accommodate the UAE’s drive for sustainable energy.

“The UAE is well aware of the environmental challenges it faces and energy conservation will be a key issue in years to come. We want to share our technological advances with the UAE, in the belief that it could make a significant contribution towards reducing its carbon footprint,” said Nakamura.

Underscoring its status, the consortium has received comprehensive support from the Japanese Embassy in the UAE and Consulate General of Japan, along with the Japan Bank for International Co-operation, the Japan External Trade Organisation, Nikkei Inc, Heat Pump and Thermal Storage Technology Centre of Japan, Nippon Keidanren, Toyota Motor Corporation and the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company Masdar. - TradeArabia News Service