Ecocity World Summit (ECWS) 2015 concluded on October 13, after having attracted more than 700 delegates from across the world, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (AED) announced.

The event host EAD said that the Summit, facilitated through the Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI) and supported by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Urban Planning Council (UPC) and Masdar, was held under the theme of Ecocities in Challenging Environments, with Masdar City, touted to be the world’s most sustainable ecocity, being one of the focal points.

According to EAD, the Summit’s programme included a series of solution–oriented workshops that will pave the way for further ecocity development initiatives, including the City Form and Resource Flows Workshop, hosted by Ecocity Builders and British Columbia Institute of Technology, which endeavoured to develop a framework for an ecocity index for local, regional and global use.

The closing ceremony saw the announcement of Melbourne, Australia, as the 2017 host of Ecocity World Summit.

H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of EAD, said during her closing address: “During the Ecocity World Summit, we heard many interventions that were inspirational and visionary, but also that were very practical, demonstrating – through real–life experience – how at the city level we can make real progress towards the vision of EcoCities. However, increasing pressure on resources, and the continued growth of emissions of greenhouse gases, our future challenges are stark. We must tackle climate change and we must ensure our cities work for people if we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Dr Ahmad Belhoul, CEO of Masdar, added, “Masdar City is a living example of eco–development in challenging environments, and we are proud to have highlighted it as a case study within the agenda of the Summit.”