Ammon News - By Emily Auer

AMMONNEWS - Under the patronage of Prince Assem bin Nayef, the Global Green Techies Forum kicked off on Monday at the Royal hotel in Amman.

The forum is organized jointly by the Jordanian Renewable Energy Society and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, and will take place over three days (September 20-22). From the 36 participating countries, scientists, politicians, economists, engineers, lawyers, bankers, and government representatives will present and discuss their most recent research, ideas, and developments in the field of renewable energy.

In an effort to reduce the world’s reliance on oil-dependant technologies, the Jordanian government has adopted a strategy to research the options and benefits of using renewable energy sources like solar thermal energy, solar electrical energy, geothermal energy, wind energy, and fuel and hydrogen cells.

Research into these various types of renewable energy will contribute to the development of green houses, sustainable houses, energy management, ECO tourism and legislation and laws regarding renewable energy.

The Global Green Techies Forum is intended to launch Jordan as a role model for green technology in the Arab region, and to spread recommendations for environmental codes, standards, and construction projects to neighboring countries.

As co-organizer the forum, the Minister of Public Works and Housing, Professor Mohammed Taleb Obaidat, stated that the first Jordanian Green Building will be built at Abu Nusair Housing complex as the Jordanian Renewable Energy Society Building.

Main speakers at the opening ceremony for the forum included Prince Assem Bin Nayef, President of the Jordanian Renewable Energy Society, Dr. Khaled Ibrahim Hasan, representative of the Arab League, and Professor Mohammed Taleb Obaidat, Minister of Public Works and Housing.

The leaders of the forum look forward to the establishment of the Arabian and International Council for Renewable Energy, as well as the European Jordanian Renewable Energy Platform. They also anticipate the Global Green Techies Forum becoming an annual event with the 2011 forum to be hosted in Bahrain by Bahrain University.