Dubai, October 04: The economic slow down is an opportunity for the UAE, particularly Dubai to step back and see if the developments taking place for years are sustainable and environment-friendly, said Zafar Adeel, director of United Nations University International Network on Water, Environment and Health.
While speaking to Khaleej Times during the day-long LG Greenomics Conference 2009 on Saturday at the Cultural and Scientific Association in Al Mamzar, Adeel said, “UAE, particularly Dubai’s development is so rapid. Though it has slowed down a bit, the economic downturn has given it a new opportunity to step back and look at what is happening in a more positive prospects.”
He said that the level of understanding in the government level in the greening of the country’s industries is also very important making UAE proactive in planning and implementing a green economy.
Recalling how the economic crisis in the UAE made the government invest in the green economy, he believed that the same trend would happen here.
“I can see lots of opportunities to demonstrate leadership on a global scale quietly unprecedented. I can see opportunity given more progressive attention, and lots of optimism are coming out of UAE,” he added.
–Agencies