UAE | Environment
'Tap solar energy for water desalination'
The Environment 2007, the annual ecological conference and exhibition, concluded last week with the experts calling for the promotion of solar technology and energy efficiency in water desalination.
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:00 February 4, 2007
Abu Dhabi: The Environment 2007, the annual ecological conference and exhibition, concluded last week with the experts calling for the promotion of solar technology and energy efficiency in water desalination.
A panel of experts from 40 countries, who participated in the conference, issued a set of recommendations for regional countries to explore new renewable and sustainable sources of energy.
The panel also recommended extension of the re-use of water for potential human consumption, and quantifying and assessing the impact of pollution on health in both water desalination and power generation.
The conference further called for investigating bromide and other metal constituents of desalinated water and their effect on consumers.
Recommendation
They also recommended designing of renewable energy and water technology programmes starting at primary school and continuing to university, create public awareness campaigns, highlighting the environmental, social and economic aspects of energy and water.
The regional countries were also urged to set targets for implementing renewable energy projects.
The other proposals included development of regional and global collaboration to promote sustainable development in the region.
The establishment of regional programmes was proposed for environmental impact assessments in desalinated water and energy that could be linked to global institutions. The development of skills through educational programmes and training dealing with water, energy and policy was also proposed.
Held under the patronage of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the conference covered five themes with 14 sub-themes. It also featured 76 scientific and policy papers, of which over 30 were from UN or related agencies. There were 338 exhibitors from 28 countries.
The participants, here for the first time, also included Greenpeace campaigners.
The international environmental organisation attended the conference to campaign against nuclear energy and to promote solar power in the region.
The organisation also brought their flagship, the Rainbow Warrior, which was berthed at Abu Dhabi's Free Port at Mina Zayed during the conference.
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