Salalah: Recommendations on the protection of the environment and natural resources, the development of sustainable cities and the encouragement of green energy initiatives were drafted by participants in the Arab Conference on Sustainable Cities
The two-day event, which concluded on Thursday, was organized by the Environment Authority in cooperation with Dhofar Municipality and the Arab Towns Organization.
The conference laid emphasis on developing, compiling and analysing indicators linked to environmental performance and smart cities—considered as key components in decision making—as well as drafting indices at a national level to lend support to global efforts to realize the goals of sustainable development.
Among other recommendations, the conference urged small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the local community to establish innovation-based firms, in addition to partnerships with major firms, to contribute to the development of sustainable cities, tourism, green economy and renewable energy.
The conference recommended that Arab countries devise a code for green growth that tallies with urban and environmental developments and enables policy makers to draft programmes for supporting green hydrogen projects, renewable energies and rationalized consumption.
Besides green economy, the conference sessions also dealt with the governance of sustainable cities and comprehensive management of water, food and waste in sustainable cities.
The conference also explored successful regional and international experiences in the field of green economy and sustainable cities. It underscored the significance of espousing smart applications when developing sustainable cities.
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