On occasion of World Environmental Day, the UN awarded the CEO of Abu Dhabi's green city Masdar, Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the title of Champion of the Earth, Masdar City said Tuesday.

"The award highlights Dr Al Jaber's achievements in advancing clean energy technologies to mitigate the threats of climate change through Masdar," a press release issued by Masdar said.

"The award is a precursor to the United Arab Emirates' participation in the 20th anniversary of the UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June, during which governments and civil society will renew their commitment to global sustainability," it said.

Aiming to be the world's first zero-carbon-city, Masdar, partly finished, is being constructed without producing waste or carbon emission.

Initiated in 2006, Masdar, the Arabic word for resource, shall accommodate about 45,000 to 50,000 residents. It has attracted so far hundreds of companies from the green- and clean-tech industry across the globe.

Masdar has initiated renewable energy projects worldwide, including Shams One, a 100 megawatt concentrated solar power plant in Abu Dhabi and London Array, a one-gigawatt offshore wind farm in Britain.