The 2012 Environmental Infrastructure Forum (EIF) was held earlier this week in Jeddah. It played host to 30 international and national speakers who gave presentations on the forum's theme: “View of green building and infrastructure projects and transportation in the GCC”. The three-day forum was launched on Monday at the Park Hyatt by the President of Presidency of Meteorology and the Environment Prince Turki Bin Nasser, Executive Director of the Saudi Environmental Society (SENS) Prince Nawaf Bin Nasser and the Minister of Transportation Dr. Jabara Eid Al-Seraisiry. The EIF gave interested people a chance to meet with experts and to forge relationships that will benefit Gulf construction and infrastructure sectors. As the forum opened, Prince Turki said: “The EIF is being launched as construction in the Middle East continues to boom. It is time now to ensure that environmental considerations are strongly incorporated in projects to guarantee sustainability and protect the environment for the next generations.” Prince Nawaf Bin Nasser expressed his hope that the forum would provide a platform for focusing on strategies of environmentally conscious construction and sustainable infrastructure. “The EIF will focus on comparing the costs of environmentally friendly infrastructure with that of traditional building and construction techniques. It will also tackle employment opportunities and business development in the environment sector and financing options for infrastructure projects and transportations.” During the forum a number of studies were revealed for the first time. These pertained to the establishment of the first solar plant, alternative energy in street and road lighting and tunnels and investment in central cooling plants. Also “The Be'aty – Green Flag, Green Country” initiative was launched by 13 mayors from across the Kingdom. This initiative promotes sustainable development and was proposed by international prize-winning environmentalist Dr. Majdah Aburas. Dr. Aburas praised the Jeddah municipality for moving towards establishing a culture of green buildings. She also announced plans by the Saudi Council for Green Buildings to instill green building in the mind of the public by organizing seminars, forums and workshops to teach people about controlling carbonic gas emissions. She also discussed an American Council for Green Buildings initiative whereby buildings would have to be certified before construction. To be approved these buildings need special wiring, insulating glass and materials. International experts praised Saudi Arabia's SR500 billion project to build seven economic cities by 2020. This huge project will lead to the creation of around 1.5 million jobs and house more than five million Saudis. FT Group General Manager Eamon Timoney said the current SR200 billion investments in construction will go beyond a trillion riyals by 2015 due to new legislation to accelerate investment and other huge development projects. Finally, Dr. Aburas said the EIF's environmental and sustainable recommendations will lead to more green environment vicinities. She said these recommendations will be announced once they are approved by Prince Turki Bin Nasser. The next major environmental forum is the Gulf Environment Forum will be held between 25th and 27th March, 2012 at the Jeddah Hilton and will include a major exhibition and senior level conference. __
