Google Cops 'Carbon-Neutral' Company Award at World Future Energy Summit

The World Future Energy Summit 2018 commenced on Monday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with more than 3,000 delegates, dignitaries, students and members of the media in attendance.

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The summit was opened by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed. The royal, who also doubles as Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, presented Japanese-born American professor of electronic engineering and 2014 Physics Nobel Prize winner, Shuji Nakamura, with a Zayed Future Energy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nakamura received the $500,000 prize for inventing blue light-emitting diode – which started being manufactured in 1993.

Several schools across the continents also received the accolade for works in the fields of solar power, water technology, cooking systems and recycling. Awards were given across the categories of Best Personal Achievement for Individuals, Large Corporations, Small and Medium Enterprises, Non-Profit Organizations and the International High School Award.

There was a panel discussion involving a group of young people from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, the United States and South Korea exchanging ideas on climate, energy and economic development.

American search engine giant, Google, was awarded for its transformation into a "carbon-neutral" company. India's Selco Foundation won in the non-profit organization category, while France's Sunna Design from France walked away with $1.5 million in prize money for topping the small and medium-term enterprises groups.

Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein was among country representatives who attended the opening ceremony of the summit held in conjunction with Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. The event drew more than 35,000 participants from 175 countries.

The theme of this year's sustainability week is "Driving the Global Energy Transformation." Sheikh Mohammed remarked that the focus is on young people.

He said that the UAE will continue its leading efforts to ensure energy security through a diverse mix of clean and renewable sources.