The Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (Gord), Qatar’s leading research, consultancy and training institute and the developer of the Qatar Sustainability Assessment System (QSAS), has developed ‘The International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment’.The journal was recently launched in the UK during a ceremony attended by editors of various specialised publications from across the world as well as representatives from Elsevier, the world’s leading provider of science and health information. The journal is a bi-annual scientific periodical that addresses a number of areas within the built environment sphere inspired by the QSAS initiative.Gord has stated that the launch of the Elsevier-published journal is part of its commitment to leverage modern knowledge, encourage sustainable construction practices and promote QSAS as a standard for sustainability assessment in built environments and one of the most comprehensive systems in the world. QSAS’ main objective is to create a strong foundation and find effective means to reduce energy consumption and promote sustainable development without compromising the region’s urban identity, while taking into account the local, regional and global climatic, geological and environmental conditions. QSAS not only addresses the needs of Qatar and the Gulf region, but is also developed to help enhance sustainability and development worldwide.In line with expected changes in legal, legislative and environmental conditions in Qatar, the Middle East and the rest of the world, Gord has designed QSAS to guarantee greater flexibility when laying down future amendments and seeking a balance between developmental requirements and sustainable objectives. This makes QSAS a comprehensive system to build a sustainable civilised environment, reduce carbon footprint and protect the natural resources. Complying with new international partnerships and following the desire of stakeholders in the Gulf region, a draft is currently under review to change the name of QSAS to Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), which is an integral part of Gord to go global. Gord also announced the signing of a series of memoranda of understanding with leading academic organisations, universities and training institutions in the UK and Germany. They are the University College London (UCL), the University of Aberdeen, the University of Reading, the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques (IPM) and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). These agreements are part of the strategy aimed at strengthening its network of partner institutions that have genuine interest and commitment to adopt sustainable solutions, applications and practices in the construction sector to reduce energy consumption, cut down carbon footprint and address various environmental challenges. Dr Yousef Mohamed al-Horr, founder and chairman of Gord, emphasised the importance of establishing strategic partnerships with high-profile universities and educational and academic institutions as a foundation for sharing knowledge and expertise. “These partnerships primarily aim to enhance co-operation in implementing new projects, initiatives and activities to offer technical services and consultation based on modern scientific research, as well as training and rehabilitation programmes,” he said.The partnership with University of Aberdeen involves the implementation of research projects on creating eco-friendly building materials, techniques to reduce carbon emissions and technologies for sustainable building. Researches to be conducted with UCL will revolve around the ‘Urban Heat Island’ and system modelling. Gord’s collaboration with the University of Reading aims to conduct studies on smart buildings, while its alliance with Fraunhofer IPM will focus on finding new ways to develop renewable building materials and hybrid solar systems.The International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment is among over 2,000 journals and close to 20,000 books and major reference works published by Elsevier, which has been serving more than 30mn scientists, students and health and information professionals worldwide.The journal covers a wide range of topics related to efforts in developing a sustainable built environment, including original research, policies and practices in energy conservation and efficiency; renewable energy and low carbon technologies; water conservation and recycling; urban planning; eco-materials, building planning, performance, systems, modelling, components and integration and life; thermal, acoustic and visual comfort; air quality; building research and architectural science; applications, techniques and assessments for building design construction and operation; healthy and productive built environment, impacts on climate change and adaptation.Gord, a subsidiary of Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, is a governmental organisation that aims to make a difference in the construction sector by promoting sustainable building standards and eco-friendly practices.