- Region’s Premier Luxury Superyachts Show aims to compensate for CO2 emissions
The Abu Dhabi Yacht Show (ADYS), the Middle East’s premier show focusing exclusively on the luxury superyacht and megayacht sector, has made a commitment to reduce the carbon footprint for its 2010 edition scheduled on February 25-27, 2010 at the stunning Yas Marina.
The eco-friendly initiative is in line with the UAE’s Ecological Footprint Programme, which aims to develop environmentally-friendly policies and foster co-operation among the public and private sectors, as well as non-governmental organisations, to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint and move it towards a more sustainable future.
EcoVentures, the region’s leading emissions reductions firm, will conduct a greenhouse gas assessment of the 2
nd Abu Dhabi Yacht Show to measure its carbon footprint. The assessment will serve as a benchmark for future shows, with the stated goal of reducing emissions by 100% by 2012.
To demonstrate the seriousness of its commitment, ADYS also plans to buy carbon credits necessary to offset the show’s expected carbon footprint – a move aimed at compensating for all energy consumption and a percentage of the fuel used by yachts to reach Abu Dhabi for the show.
“ADYS fully supports initiatives that will help reduce its carbon emissions and promote responsible use of non-renewable energy resources. Our commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of this year’s edition is a contribution to the efforts of the Abu Dhabi Government to help create a more sustainable future for the emirate,” said Franck Dailles, Group Director of Informa Yacht Group (IYG), organisers of ADYS.
EcoVentures director Armen Vartanian added, "We are very enthusiastic to be working with the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show in its efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of this year's event and in compensating the use of energy. It is motivating to see such an initiative from one of the regional yachting industry’s most high profile events and we hope this will serve as an example for organisers of other regional trade shows going forward.”
Yachting is generally perceived as a clean leisure and sporting activity. While bigger and faster motor yachts continue to be built, the most stringent national and international regulations regarding exhaust emissions are followed in their construction. To demonstrate, defend and follow such initiatives, ADYS has committed to reducing its emissions, through internal reduction strategies and purchase of carbon credits. d
“As part of our strategy of enhancing Abu Dhabi’s major events portfolio, ADTA is currently reviewing the gradual adoption of an environmental policy across its stable of business and leisure events,” said Faisal Al Sheikh, Events Manager, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), headline sponsor of ADYS.
“Abu Dhabi Yacht Show’s commitment to carbon footprint reduction is certainly a pioneering initiative in the right direction and one which, we hope, will be emulated by other major events in Abu Dhabi.”
