The United Arab Emirates is not normally thought of as a leader in combating climate change.Not only do the buildings look good, but they are entirely fit for purpose and sympathetic to their environment." Building design experts obviously agree. Al Bahr Towers was recently given the award for "Best Tall

Building Worldwide" by the Chicago-based CTBUH (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats), which recognizes sustainable architecture.For starters, it has one of the highest levels of carbon dioxide emissions per capita in the world, according to the World Bank.In designing modern and sustainable buildings, architects are taking cues from an ancient Arabic design tradition.However, Abu Dhabi has in recent years drawn attention for its innovative environmental building projects.One striking example is a high-tech sun shading system running up the facade of the award winning Al Bahr Towers.The firm has pioneered a new technique that could revolutionize the approach to building in extreme climates.The building was created by the British architectural firm Aedas.