(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Stimulating insightful discussions on sustainability, climate actions and carbon neutrality, Qatar Sustainability Summit (QSS) concluded yesterday at St. Regis Doha.
Co-organised by the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD), QSS gathered advocates, practitioners and researchers to share the promises and pitfalls of sustainability.
Speaking about the event, the Chairman of GORD, Dr. Yousef Alhorr, 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, he said.
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 Center 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.
Speaking about the agreement, Rajendra Shende, Chairman, Terre Policy Centre, said, 'Terre Policy Centre and GORD have common goals in skill-building of the youths in education Institutes and empowering them to contribute to SDGs and climate change through practical activities in campus.
This year's summit also launched GORD's campaign titled ‘Destination Green' a novel initiative aimed at promoting sustainability in the region.
Trusting in the ability of public and private organizations to catalyze market-led transformation, #DestinationGreen campaign will urge businesses to report their green initiatives. Any organization big or small will be acknowledged as long as it has worked towards environmental conservation. 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.
Discussions on the second day of the summit encompassed current status and prospects of renewable energy systems, cooling and energy challenges in hot and humid climate, and European Commission's Fuel Quality Directives and their Implications for oil & gas industry in Middle East.
Specialists from GORD also introduced the upcoming 'Qatar's Accreditation Council for GHG verification and management system accreditation. Commenting on collaboration with GORD for QSS, Yosouf Abdulrahman Saleh, Executive Director of QSTP, 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. Reiterating similar thoughts, Ouassim Alami is Strategic Initiatives Adviser to Qatar Foundation's Chief Operations Officer, added, 'We believe that events like Qatar Sustainability Summit are leading platforms for networking and collaborating to drive climate actions and achieve sustainable growth.
A key focus of this year's presentations remained energy transition. From low-carbon growth to voluntary carbon markets, sustainability experts explored ways forward to decarbonize the region's economy that heavily relies on fossil fuels. Dirk Forrister is the President & CEO of IETA, said, 'To drive the change, carbon markets can be the policy tool to unlock climate ambition by delivering maximum emissions reductions at lowest cost.
To help catalyze this regional energy transition, IETA has collaborated with GORD as the carbon market partner for Qatar Sustainability Summit.
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