United Development Company (UDC), the master developer of The Pearl-Qatar (TPQ), has held a ceremony to honour winners of the environmental slogan competition.
Initiated and managed by UDC’s Environment Department, the open competition - which aims to instil the concepts of environmental awareness and promote a culture of sustainable development - rewarded the 10 best environmental slogans.
The winners participated in planting a tree on the island’s Grand Park adjacent to Viva Bahriya, with the slogan and author’s name imprinted on a
specially crafted placard.
Attending the ceremony were Dr Saif Ali al-Hajari, chairman of Friends of the Environment Centre (FEC), and Jamal al-Hajri, acting director of TPQ operations, in addition to the competition’s judging panel, Qasim Radaideh, CEO of Estedama, Dr Alex Amato, head of sustainability from Qatar Green Building Council, and senior officials representing UDC.
More than 150 submissions were received from individuals and corporate entities concerned about environmental awareness by email and through The Pearl-Qatar’s social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and
Instagram.
Winners of the best environment slogans were also handed a certificate acknowledging their effort with details of their tree.
On this occasion, Shaikha al-Emadi, environment awareness and communication officer at The Pearl-Qatar, said: “The positive impact of the large participation stands testament to the success of UDC’s efforts towards establishing environmental awareness among the community living and working at The Pearl-Qatar.”
According to Kate Fletcher, senior environmental awareness specialist at UDC, residents of The Pearl-Qatar have once again shown their commitment to sound environmental practices by observing Earth Hour, turning off non-essential lights and breathing life into this awareness campaign over the years.
At the end of the planting ceremony, the FEC chairman said: “The organisation of such a competition highlights the commitment of UDC’s and The Pearl-Qatar’s environmental management to growing and spreading the culture of a sustainable environment, not only among the island’s residents but for future generations everywhere as well.”
The Pearl-Qatar has an environmental programme that includes the banning of plastic bags on the island. It also has an established Environmental Affairs Department that regularly runs projects and programmes with the aim of protecting and enhancing Qatar’s unique ecosystem.