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Learning from Cities— The 2nd Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation
continually develop to encourage
implementation task was undertaken
improvement for all of society.
by the UPC alone. In this connection, it was of critical importance for Estidama to win the endorsement at the regional
Implementation of the Initiative
level of Abu Dhabi, which was
A set of effective working mechanisms
close alignment with “Vision 2030�,
and rating systems have been put
so the Pearl Rating System (PRS), the
in place during the implementation
centerpiece of Estidama Program, received
process of Estidama Program, as is
Abu Dhabi Government mandate in
vividly indicated in the success story of
July 2010, immediately after it was
building Masdar City.
submitted by the UPC as a policy
granted at last. As far as Abu Dhabi is concerned, Estidama Program is in
proposal. 1. The Working Mechanism: Multi-party Collaboration
Second, collaboration between public and private sectors. Although
Given its nature of being an
Estidama Program is able to produce
extremely complex project, it would
tangible socio-economic benefits
be difficult for Estidama Program
in the long term, the enforcement
to be effectively advanced single-
of the compulsory Pearl Rating
handedly by the government or by
System inevitably results in a short-
the private sector. Therefore, from
term increase of engineering and
the outset of its implementation,
management costs. Therefore, the
the Urban Planning Council (UPC),
government of Abu Dhabi faced a
as the initiator of the program, has
challenge of how to communicate this
acknowledged the importance of multi-
trade-off between short-term and long-
party collaboration.
term benefits to the business community
First, intra-governmental
in a way that would not discourage
collaboration. As sustainable development
their investment in urban construction.
bears on the interests of every citizen
In regard to costs, the government of
and involves all governmental
Abu Dhabi decided to reduce subsidies
departments, it would be practically
for construction projects of all sorts,
impossible to make speedy headways
which was conducive to incentivizing
in advancing Estidama Program if the
businesses to incorporate as many