Date Announced: 10 Sep 2010 Xiamen, China – Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE:PHG, AEX: PHI), the global leader in lighting solutions has advocated the creation of “livable cities” as a key component of urban well-being. Speaking at a session on ‘Entering into the green race’ at the World Investment Forum in Xiamen, Olivier Piccolin, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Philips Lighting Asia, linked the rapid urbanization of Asian societies to the need for sustainable development: “By the middle of the century,” he commented, “It is expected that more than two-thirds of the world’s population will be living in cities. This will place additional responsibility on municipalities to create cities that are safe and enjoyable to live, to work and do business.”“Healthy lifestyles, access to affordable healthcare and sustainable urban environments are all cornerstones of the Livable Cities concept,” said Mr. Piccolin. “In particular, provision of energy-efficient lighting is a key building block of a rapidly urbanizing world, particularly in Asia.”Energy-efficient lighting is fast becoming a core requirement of urban infrastructure and Philips has been taking the lead in driving its adoption. The latest outdoor LED lighting solutions from Philips enable cities to provide safer, more secure urban environments, while helping create attractive urban locations for businesses, visitors and residents alike. LED lighting is also helping municipalities reach their targets of lowering energy consumption and CO₂ emissions.Mr. Piccolin urged urban planners to link their economic progress with sustainable development: “Cities have a crucial role to play in addressing climate change and governments should not only be setting targets for reducing energy consumption but should lead by example by switching to energy efficient technologies and incentivizing the inflow of green FDI (foreign direct investment).”
Contact
Barbara Neate Media Relations Manager Philips Electronics, Corporate Communications UK Tel: + 44 (0) 1483 293 071 Mobile: + 44 (0) 7771 814 778
E-mail:[email protected]
