Survey recognises Abu Dhabi's environmental credentials

Abu Dhabi appears on a list of the top 10 global sustainable cities by the US-based think-tank the Ethisphere Institute.

ABU DHABI // Abu Dhabi has been named one of the top 10 sustainable cities of the future by a US-based think-tank that researches and promotes good government and social responsibility by corporations. Abu Dhabi beat 40 other cities in the survey by the Ethisphere Institute to have its name added to the group's 2020 Global Sustainable Centers list. All cities on the list have populations of more than 600,000 and were deemed by the institute to have made significant efforts to "build strong and principled foundations so that by 2020 they would be role models in the area of sustainability".

The cities were judged on environmental and sustainable practices, health and recreation, economic and business environment, regulatory framework and innovation and investment, among other criteria. "Abu Dhabi has a comprehensive environmental plan in place and the wealth to implement it," said Alex Brigham, Etisphere's executive director. "Masdar City points to the innovation and investment category."

Researchers reviewed hundreds of cities around the world and chose 50 semi-finalists, from which the 10 winners were chosen. Jean-Philippe Coulaud, spokesman for the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, said being included on the list was proof that the council's efforts were among the most ambitious and important in the world. "We are proud," he said. "It shows that we're on the right track to achieving what we want to achieve. This is real encouragement and it comes at the right time."

The institute has previously recognised the UAE for what it called the country's relative economic and social freedom, compared with other nations in the region. @Email:[e-mail]