Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) recently launched its first 'green service station' in the Middle East at The Meadows neighbourhood in Emirates Hills, Dubai.

Among the innovative green initiatives at the station are advanced technological devices to contain petrol fumes released at the pump, and a variety of other state-of-the-art systems, including solar-powered lighting, a ‘waterless’ car-washing system, new waste segregation systems, and design upgrades to reduce noise pollution.

Enoc is underlining the importance of sustainable development to meet urban challenges through its participation as a silver sponsor in an ongoing environmental forum in Dubai.

Future Cities 2011, a three-day forum focused on urban planning and development, is ending tomorrow (September 29) at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre.

The event organised jointly by Dubai Municipality, the Environment Centre for Arab Towns and Arab Towns Organisation.

Future Cities 2011 serves as a platform for sourcing solutions and outlining long-term strategies for ensuring the sustained social, economic and environmental development of tomorrow’s global cities.

“The cities of the future are projected to face unprecedented challenges led by the rising population and the pressure on the infrastructure,” said Khalid Hadi, Brand and Corporate Communications director of Enoc.

“One of the effective strategies to address these challenges is an emphasis on sustainable development. Enoc is underscoring its commitment to promoting initiatives that help manage and implement sustainable urban growth through our support to the Future Cities 2011 forum.”

Leading professionals from the public and private sectors are participating in active discussion on the various challenges faced by urban cities. The various discussions analyse the impact of growing urban population – with nearly six billion people or nearly two-third of the world’s population expected to live in cities in the next three decades.

Environmental protection, preservation and the need to promote innovative solutions to address the urban challenges are at the centrestage at the forum, co-located with Cityscape Global, the premier real estate exhibition. – TradeArabia News Service