Abu Dhabi environment conference to share ideas

Andy Ridley, the founder of Earth Hour, is one of many environmental innovators scheduled to talk at the Sofitel in Abu Dhabi during the TEDxWWF conference in May.

Andy Ridley, the founder of Earth Hour, will address an audience in Abu Dhabi next month.

Mr Ridley is one of many environmental innovators all scheduled to talk at the Sofitel in the capital during the TEDxWWF conference on May 21.

Ted started out in 1984 as a platform for innovators and leaders in technology, entertainment and design to share ideas.

Its scope is now much broader. TEDxWWF first took place in October 2011 in Geneva, Switzerland, and was followed the next year at the Insead Asia Campus in Singapore. The Abu Dhabi event will be held under the theme "One Planet Living".

"We believe this platform will enable the selected inspirational speakers to share insightful, relevant ideas and encourage other individuals to support or even seek more sustainable solutions in their daily lives," said Ida Tillisch, acting director general of the Emirates Wildlife Society - World Wide Fund for Nature.

Also speaking will be Andreas Keller, who is working on projects to provide renewable energy to slum dwellers in Africa.

The audience will have a chance to learn about the work of prominent local environmentalists such as Ginger Dosier Krieg, a professor at the American University of Sharjah who devised a sustainable way of making bricks.

Registration for the event is at tedxwwf.com and it will be streamed live on the web.