Boozhy Headlines: Oil Dollars to Produce First Zero Carbon City

With all of the emphasis the US and Europe are placing on green initiatives you would think the birth of the first zero carbon city would emerge within their borders. Not so.  The United Arab Emirates, the world's third largest oil producer, has partnered with MIT to build the first zero carbon city on the edge of the National Capitol Abu Dhabi. 

Perhaps the most interesting point is that UAE is presenting the investment in the city (aka the Masdar Initiative), as an economic play, not an environmental one. 

"This is going to create huge business and research opportunities to get beyond where we are today," says Khaled Awad, of the government-owned Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company.  "For Abu Dhabi to maintain its market share in energy, it must develop other forms of energy."

Just more evidence that the real future of the green movement lies in economics and not social responsibility. 

Comments

[ideal]

The vision is superb. But the cost is to high!!!

[glutz67]

The cost of NOT doing this is too high. Excellent plan. Thank you for being a world leader.

[James]

I guess there won't be any humans and animals in that city because that means it is no zero carbon anymore.

[MNPundit]

One of things I wish the oil companies would get is that the company who develops sustainable and effective non-oil energy first will have every other nation and corporation over a barrel. They can dictate whatever terms they like as long as their technology is monopolized.

Also James, you get zero carbon planting carbon sinks so that for ever X number of people you have X number of trees for example. People's bodies produce limited carbon, as a lot of the carbon we exhale is just what we inhaled. Other uses of carbon (such as waste) can be processed so as to not emit it into the atmosphere.

To clever by half buddy.

[tim harris]

But on what grounds do you suppose that social responsibility and what you call 'economics' are antithetical? Can you not think a little beyond such cliches?