2012-2-3   Source: WBCSD

The United Arab Emirates Business Council for Sustainable Development (UAE BCSD) announced its plans to develop a new initiative called Vision 2050 Arabia. Building on the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s (WBCSD) seminal Vision 2050 report, the initiative aims to bring together business leaders from the Gulf to – in dialogue with governments and other stakeholders - work towards designing a sustainable pathway for all countries in the region by mid century.

The announcement of Vision 2050 Arabia coincides with the launch of the Arabic version of the Vision 2050 report at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in Abu Dhabi. Vision 2050 calls for a new agenda for business laying out a pathway to a world in which nine billion people can live well, and within the planet’s resources, by mid-century. The report is a consensus piece that was compiled by 29 leading global companies from 14 industries and is the result of an 18 month long combined effort between CEOs and experts, and dialogues with more than 200 companies and external stakeholders in some 20 countries. The report has already been translated into 10 languages.

The WFES is a major annual global energy event committed to advancing future energy, energy efficiency and clean technologies by engaging political, business, finance, academic and industry leaders to drive innovation, business and investment opportunities in response to the growing need for sustainable energy. Speakers included Marcel Engel, Managing Director,  WBCSD Regional Network; Hussain Al Mahmoudi, President, UAE BCSD; and Gus Schellekens, Director for Sustainability and Climate Change, PwC.