Dubai/Nairobi, 5 February
2006 - Roads made out of sugar, ships powered
and propelled by the sun and grease gobbling
bacteria are among the environmentally-sound
technologies being unveiled tomorrow at
an international United Nations conference
in the United Arab Emirates.
The technologies, ranging from renewable
energies and waste reduction systems to
solar powered fridges for storing vaccines,
are on show at the 9th Special Session of
the United Nations’s Governing Council/Global
Ministerial Environment Forum.
Klaus Toepfer, UNEP’s Executive Director,
said: “Technology has a vital role to play
in delivering a cleaner, healthier and more
stable world. Here in the United Arab Emirates
we are show casing the imaginative, creative
and practical ideas of local and international
companies”.
“I hope their technologies, aimed at solving
the energy crisis up to reducing water,
soil and air pollution, will be beacons
of inspiration for governments, civil society
and industry meeting here,” he added.
“Indeed proof that, with the right policies,
countries can catalyze creative minds to
solve some of the pressing and environment
and development issues facing this planet
while generating new industries and new
jobs,” said Mr Toepfer.
Ecopave GEO 320 is an Australian invention
that turns sugars from sugar cane or molasses
into road paving.
It is designed to be a substitute for conventional
bitumen from fossil fuels used to pave most
roads around the world.
The company claims that not only sugars
but a wide range of other natural materials
can be used to make the paving including
tree resins and gums, vegetable oils and
potato and rice starches.
It also claims the product is environmentally-friendly
in others ways. For example negligible levels
of fumes are involved during the laying
and unlike bitumen, which must be constantly
heated at temperatures of 170 degrees C,
the new material can be stored and transported
at room temperature.
A novel spin off is that the product can
‘pigmented’ to reflect heat and thus help
to cool hot cities, the company claims.
Several solar power products are being showcased
including household solar powered wall lamps
from the Indian company Kwality Electricals
up to solar 50MW thermal power stations
being promoted by the German company Schott.
The Schott brochure states: “Approximately
one per cent of the surface area of the
world’s deserts would suffice for solar
thermal power plants to generate enough
power to meet global needs”.
2006 is the UN International Year of Deserts
and Desertification.
Another idea from Australia is a solar collector
cum power station that looks rather like
a satellite dish.
A 30 metre dish concentrates and focuses
sunlight to 2,000 degrees C into cells containing
salt and metal hydrides to generate electricity
using a turbine which can be used directly
or stored for later
The inventors estimate that 450kw or electricity
can be generated from eight hours of sunlight.
The also believe the system can be scaled
up to form larger power plants.
Meanwhile, a local company called Solar
Sailor, is showcasing solar powered ships
from catamarans up to houseboats and aqua
tankers for water transportation. The vessels
can be either fully solar powered or hybrids
fueled by sunlight and conventional internal
combustion engines.
UNEP is promoting a technology called SolarChill
designed specifically to bring reliable
and affordable refrigeration to developing
countries in order to fight disease and
realized part of the internationally agreed
Millennium Development Goals.
Prototypes are being tested in Cuba, Indonesia
and Senegal.
The anti grease system, aimed a reducing
block pipes and water pollution, is being
showcased by Aluline, a local Dubai company.
It is targeted at kitchens and the catering
industry.
Monique Barbut, Director of the UNEP Division
of Technology, Industry and Economics which
has organized the Environmentally Sound
Technology fair, said they hoped to put
suppliers of appropriate technologies together
with developing world governments and develop
partnerships.
UNEP has a new initiative aimed at getting
technologies into developing nations called
the Bali Strategic Plan on Technology Support
and Capacity Building.
Ms Barbut said: “Developing partnerships
as a result of exhibitions like this fair
can play a role in getting Bali underway.
We hope to take these partnership ideas
forward to the next Commission on Sustainable
Development”.
Notes to Editors
More details on the 9th Special Session
of UNEP’s Governing Council/Global Ministerial
Environment Forum and the other meetings
and events surrounding it – including an
online form for media accreditation – can
be found at www.unep.org or http://www.unep.org/gc/gcss-ix/
