Doha: Under the theme ‘Destination Green’, the two-day Qatar Sustainability Summit (QSS) will begin today bringing together business leaders, practitioners, policy makers, researchers and scholars.
According to the agenda of QSS, Minister of Municipality and Environment, H E Eng. Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, will deliver opening speech at the Summit followed by speeches by Dr Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD) and Engineer Meshal Al Shamari, Director of Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC).
There will be insightful talks on different important topics including ‘Qatar National Research Fund: Challenges and Opportunities in Research Ecosystem’, ‘Transitioning Energy Systems and Sustainability R&D in Shell’, ‘Unesco’s Sustainability and Climate Action Initiatives’ during the first day of the Summit in ‘Leaders Talk’ session.
Qatar’s pioneering efforts in sustainability and climate mitigation are also part of the first day's agenda of QSS in which there will be speeches and presentations on some important topics such as ‘Qatar’s preparedness to deliver zero-carbon growth of aviation sector’, ‘Towards delivery of sustainable stadiums’, ‘Education City tram project’ and ‘Kahramaa’s efforts towards sustainability’.
The mega event is being launched as the nation’s flagship sustainability initiative under the patronage of Prime Minister and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, said a statement issued last week by the GORD.
In line with Qatar National Vision 2030, QSS is aimed to ramp up efforts towards climate change. With extreme weather events surfacing across the globe, climate change has come under global spotlight as a burning issue. The QSS will look at environmental challenges through a regional lens, while also sparking debates on ways forward to pursue sustainable development, it added.
The second day of the Summit also hosts a number of insightful sessions in which experts from Qatar and across the globe will share their knowledge and insight on different crucial subjects including ‘Tackling energy challenges for sustainable region’, ‘Climate change mitigation – global policy dimensions’, ‘Advancement in eco-solutions’, ‘Region’s sustainable and low-carbon development’ among others.
During the opening ceremony of the Summit, a number of regional and international organizations will be signing cooperation agreements with GORD to embark on joint ventures towards sustainable development.
GORD will also present sustainability awards to projects and organisations that have demonstrated sustainability best practices over the years.