Professor Daniel Esty lectured United Arab Emirates officials (and others) about environmental sustainability at Yale University last week.
Members attending Professor Daniel Esty’s lecture: “Green to Gold: Environmental Sustainability in a Changing World” at Yale University last week included a who’s who of United Arab Emirates officials. The event was attended by H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces), Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al-Nahyan (Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research), Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al-Nahyan (Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)), senior officials, dignitaries and ambassadors from the United Arab Emirates.
The lecturer, Daniel Esty, is the Director of the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, as well as Yale’s Center for Business and the Environment. He has also written or edited nine books and several articles regarding the relationships between environmental and corporate strategy, trade, globalization, and development.
This lecture was based on one of his most recently published books, Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantage.
Esty made direct references to environmental efforts being made in the UAE during his lecture, citing Masdar as a competitive model that aims to generate electricity in both an economic and environmentally friendly way. Masdar is attempting to advance the development and commercialization of renewable energy in the UAE. (Despite other popular voices like GreenTech Media abjectly opposing what Masdar stands for).
Esty also suggested that the UAE be the location for the establishment of the world’s first college of environmental sustainability in order to further boost environmental preservation.
Esty concluded his lecture by saying that a “green wave” is undoubtedly sweeping across the business world, and that those who learn to ride it and integrate environmental thinking into their businesses will stand to profit. Alternatively, those who ignore the wave will probably be swept under by it.
Image via: Northam Design Ltd
Read more about Masdar::
Re-Assessing Masdar City
Masdar CEO Admits An End to Oil
Masdar City’s Dream of 100% Sustainability an Example for Other Countries
Author: Karen Chernick
Much to the disappointment of her Moroccan grandmother, Karen became a vegetarian at the age of seven because of a heartfelt respect for other forms of life. She also began her journey to understand her surroundings and her impact on the environment. She even starting an elementary school Ecology Club and an environmental newsletter in the 3rd grade. (The proceeds of the newsletter went to non-profit environmental organizations, of course.) She now studies in New York. Karen can be reached at karen (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
