ID :
394577
Fri, 01/22/2016 - 09:46
Auther :

Media participates in Urban Journalism Workshop as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

ABU DHABI, 22nd January, 2016 (WAM) -- The Urban Journalism Academy, a pioneering initiative to train journalists and media professionals with an interest in sustainable, urban development, yesterday held a workshop for media on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2016. Organised by United Nations Habitat III Secretariat and hosted by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the UAE Government and Masdar, the workshop convened over 30 representatives of local, regional and international media. Half the world’s population – or 3.5 billion people – now live in cities. This is forecasted to reach 60% by 2030 and 75% by 2050. Addressing the complex challenges of rapid urbanisation is one of the key thematic issues addressed through various events and conferences at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2016. "Efforts to mitigate climate change and de-carbonise our energy system must focus heavily on cities as the largest consumers," said IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin. "The media is the most effective channel to communicate this imperative and the opportunities inherent in a transition to renewable energy." Speaking on the importance of the workshop, Dr. Nawal Al-Hosany, Director of Sustainability at Masdar, the host of ADSW, said, "Awareness is one of the four core pillars of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. This event represented an important opportunity to increase the level of knowledge on urban development issues among journalists, who in turn play a critical role in expanding the level of consciousness to the wider audience in the UAE, the region and the world." UN Habitat’s representative, Faraj El-Awar, said: "The Urban Journalism Academies are designed to make urban development issues and challenges clear and accessible to the general public, beyond the professionals, researchers and public authorities, bringing the urban debate closer to the average citizen. Media has a key role in disseminating and following up the global discussions towards the New Urban Agenda." – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395290598580.html

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