Stimulating insightful discussions on sustainability, climate actions and carbon neutrality, Qatar Sustainability Summit (QSS) concluded Monday at St Regis Doha.
Co-organised by the Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (Gord), QSS gathered advocates, practitioners and researchers to share the promises and pitfalls of sustainability. The two-day event featured presentations from experts representing leading organisations and institutions representing various sectors including research, energy, construction, retails, manufacturing, sports and educations, etc.


Signing of the agreement between Gord and Terre Policy Centre

Dr Yousef Alhorr, founding chairman Gord, said, “Qatar Sustainability Summit creates an ideal platform for the exchange of knowledge and thoughts. The presentations have centred on four key pillars, including policies and initiatives, encouraging implementation of sustainability in different sectors of economies such as built environment, mobility, energy, businesses and resource. Several presentations were related to latest technologies and innovations for energy efficiency, recycling, water conservation, carbon-free transport and waste management.”
“The presentations highlight education’s role in research and development in providing environmental sustainability through interdisciplinary research activities between academia, industry and government agencies for the benefit of public and environment. Furthermore, QSS brought collaborations between parties to influence youth and development of new approaches for addressing climate change and environment in a way that suits the new generation’s needs, thoughts and behaviour,” he added.


Live scribing at the event

The second day of QSS was marked by signing of a memorandum of understanding between Gord and Terre Policy Centre. The MoU between Terre Policy Centre and Gord will open the avenues for collaboration on facilitation of higher education institutions for the implementation of concrete actions that focus on achieving sustainability and carbon neutrality.
“Terre Policy Centre and Gord have common goals in skill-building of the youth in education Institutes and empowering them to contribute to SDGs and climate change through practical activities in campus. Climate neutrality, carbon trading, climate resilience and climate mitigation would need the hand holding, mentoring, verification and certification. Leveraging competitive advantages of Gord and Terre to address these challenges will be the focus of our partnership,” noted, Rajendra Shende, chairman, Terre Policy Centre.
Specialists from Gord also introduced the upcoming “Qatar’s Accreditation Council” for Green House Gases verification and management system accreditation. Commenting on collaboration with Gord, Yosouf Abdulrahman Saleh, executive director of Qatar Science and Technology Park, said, “We believe the Qatar Sustainability Summit is an important platform for stakeholders who are actively involved in various sustainability-related initiatives as we work towards a greener future for Qatar, the wider Mena region and beyond.”
QSS was co-organised by Gord in collaboration with leading organizations including Qatari Diar Real Estate Company, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Shell, Qatar Foundation, the Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah International Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development, Midea Global, Qatar Science & Technology Park, Qatar National Research Fund), Al-Taadhod Group, LuLu International Group, Doha Bank, Qatar Petrochemical Company, Aspire Zone Foundation, Qatar Sports League, Green Wall, GreyWolf, Gulf Business Machines, the International Emissions Trading Association, the embassy of Canada among others.
With key agreements signed between Gord and leading entities, Qatar Sustainability Summit has laid foundation for a range of unprecedented initiatives to drive climate change in Qatar.
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