Falah Mohamed Al Ahbabi, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, ADUPC, and Dr. Joan Clos, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, UN, and Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, discussed, during their meeting today, the strengthening of co-operation between the AUDPC and UN-Habitat in the area of urban planning and expansion and its effect on communities, cities, the economy, climate change and policies.
The visit was an opportunity to discuss the plans and means to help reach innovative solutions for facing the current challenges presented by the effects of urban development around the world.
Both sides discussed the best practices adopted by the council for its sustainable urban development strategy. Its adoption of the Estidama Pearl Rating System is considered one its most important strategies for developing urban communities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, to contribute in creating integrated communities for improving the quality of life.
Al Ahbabi commented on the visit and expressed his happiness at meeting Dr. Clos, under the framework of their joint efforts to strengthen the co-operation between the council and the UN programme, which relate to urban expansion and its effects on the various aspects of social and economic life.
"We in the ADUPC will contribute by co-operating with UN-Habitat to find the appropriate solutions, which will increase awareness about the importance of establishing the use of sustainability principles, to plan sustainable urban communities and respond to the demands of all the individuals of society," he added.
"We in the council are proud of its accomplished achievements, in light of reaching the goals of the Abu Dhabi Plan and the vision of the late Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed, which continues its role through the developing policies, guidelines and plans of the council," he further added.
Of the most important topics in the meeting was on the sustainable resources of the cities of the future, which include various social resources such as the human capital, education, transportation, ideas and information technology, with great importance to sustainable urban development.

Source: WAM