Nadine M.Post / ENR

Dubai embarked on its building frenzy with little or no thought to sustainable living or a viable urban plan. Pollution is visible. It is a place of sealed buildings, totally dependent on air-conditioning. And it is not pedestrian-friendly. Observers are skeptical that a metro system, set to open in about a year, will relieve traffic congestion. Even the urban core is spread out, with skyscrapers spaced like trophies on a shelf with no easy way to get from one to the other without driving.

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The development of Dubai was the result of the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the emirate's ruler. He now has pledged to realign the city along sustainable principles. Unfortunately, much of this effort is merely closing the barn door after the horse has escaped. It is going to be tough to accomplish because Dubai is not selling conservation; it is selling excess. There are indoor ski runs and extravagant golf courses and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Abu Dhabi, which is embarking on a building boom likely to surpass Dubai's in magnitude, is at least taking the time to plan walkable, livable desert communities . They are better thought out than the Dubai developments.

At the tall building council's conference, the group announced it will develop a set of sustainable guidelines. Now is the time for organizations committed to sustainability in the built environment, as well as all parties to the construction process, to contribute their knowledge and energy toward creating an international standard for greening tall buildings. The time element is especially critical, as we are in the midst of a worldwide tall-building boom. In a world where buildings account for 40% of carbon emissions, it is imperative for new buildings be built to environmentally sensitive standards. Otherwise, we will end up with more Dubai-like developments: excessive and ultimately unsustainable.