The Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (Gord) launched a new campaign named Destination Green at the Qatar Sustainability Summit (QSS) which concluded Monday.
“Destination Green, aimed at promoting sustainability in the region, urges the business houses and the society at large to take tangible steps in creating a sustainable world," Gord founding chairman Dr Yousef Alhorr said.
The campaign will appeal to the business houses to report their green initiatives. It is open to both public and private companies, he explained.
By pledging support for Destination Green, organisations will commit to improve their operations and practices towards a carbon-neutral world. The organisations will be acknowledged as long as they have worked towards environmental conservation to catalyse market-led transformation.
“A sustainable business practice can manifest itself in many forms, such as the use of supplies made from sustainable sources, enforcing single-use plastic ban, telecommuting and recycling policies. Over the years, regional and international organisations within Qatar have ventured into the sustainability realm with initiatives aimed at creating a carbon-neutral world. Putting this in context, Gord’s Destination Green campaign will consolidate the efforts of various stakeholders towards the greater goal of crafting a green legacy for present and future generations,” explained the official.
The project was officially inaugurated with a pledge wall signed by HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie and other dignitaries including HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali, Planning and Statistics Authority president HE Dr Saleh bin Mohamed al-Nabit; Public Works Authority (Ashghal) president Dr Saad bin Ahmad al-Muhannadi, and Qatari Diar CEO Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah.
On the second day of the summit, a panel discussion on the topic of ‘Tackling Energy Challenges for Sustainable Region’ highlighted the challenges faced by the region.It discussed several ideas such as ‘Renewable Energy Systems: Current Status and Prospects’; ‘Cooling & Energy Challenges in Hot & Humid climate’; ‘Sustainability of Power generation & Energy Transition’ and ‘European Commission’s Fuel Quality Directives- Implications for Oil & Gas Industry in Middle East.’
Prof Soteris Kalogioru, editor-in-chief, Renewable Energy, Cyprus University of Technology said “Melting polar ice, hurricanes around the world, coastal floods are some of the challenges that we face in the modern times. There should be higher push for renewable energy so that carbon emissions can be reduced.”
He highlighted that 93% of houses in Cyprus has solar energy water heating facility which is a world record.
Dr Bourhan Tashtoush, head of energy systems and renewables discussed the topic of cooling and energy challenges in hot and humid conditions. “Cooling of residential buildings accounts for the biggest share of energy consumption- about 50% -in GCC countries. 80% of the energy consumption in GCC countries goes for cooling purposes,” he highlighted.
Prof Tatiana Morosuk, Technical University Berlin and Clemens Ploechi, managing partner Energy Changes also took part in the discussions.
The campaign will appeal to the business houses to report their green initiatives. It is open to both public and private companies, he explained.
By pledging support for Destination Green, organisations will commit to improve their operations and practices towards a carbon-neutral world. The organisations will be acknowledged as long as they have worked towards environmental conservation to catalyse market-led transformation.
“A sustainable business practice can manifest itself in many forms, such as the use of supplies made from sustainable sources, enforcing single-use plastic ban, telecommuting and recycling policies. Over the years, regional and international organisations within Qatar have ventured into the sustainability realm with initiatives aimed at creating a carbon-neutral world. Putting this in context, Gord’s Destination Green campaign will consolidate the efforts of various stakeholders towards the greater goal of crafting a green legacy for present and future generations,” explained the official.
The project was officially inaugurated with a pledge wall signed by HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie and other dignitaries including HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali, Planning and Statistics Authority president HE Dr Saleh bin Mohamed al-Nabit; Public Works Authority (Ashghal) president Dr Saad bin Ahmad al-Muhannadi, and Qatari Diar CEO Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah.
On the second day of the summit, a panel discussion on the topic of ‘Tackling Energy Challenges for Sustainable Region’ highlighted the challenges faced by the region.It discussed several ideas such as ‘Renewable Energy Systems: Current Status and Prospects’; ‘Cooling & Energy Challenges in Hot & Humid climate’; ‘Sustainability of Power generation & Energy Transition’ and ‘European Commission’s Fuel Quality Directives- Implications for Oil & Gas Industry in Middle East.’
Prof Soteris Kalogioru, editor-in-chief, Renewable Energy, Cyprus University of Technology said “Melting polar ice, hurricanes around the world, coastal floods are some of the challenges that we face in the modern times. There should be higher push for renewable energy so that carbon emissions can be reduced.”
He highlighted that 93% of houses in Cyprus has solar energy water heating facility which is a world record.
Dr Bourhan Tashtoush, head of energy systems and renewables discussed the topic of cooling and energy challenges in hot and humid conditions. “Cooling of residential buildings accounts for the biggest share of energy consumption- about 50% -in GCC countries. 80% of the energy consumption in GCC countries goes for cooling purposes,” he highlighted.
Prof Tatiana Morosuk, Technical University Berlin and Clemens Ploechi, managing partner Energy Changes also took part in the discussions.
