Doha, Qatar: THE INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE QATAR (ICC Qatar) has launched the ICC Green Economy Roadmap and Energy and Environment Commission during a seminar jointly hosted by ICC Qatar and Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC).
More than 60 professionals and project managers gathered at the Qatar Chamber for the ‘ICC’s Green Economy Roadmap: implications for Qatar’ seminar to learn about ICC’s flagship guide, which provides guidance to business, policy makers and society in the development and implementation of policies and actions towards a ‘green economy’.
Remy Rowhani, Director General Qatar Chamber and ICC Qatar Secretary General, welcomed delegates to the seminar and shared the roadmap’s benefits.
He said: “As part of our efforts to serve our business community, we are working very closely with the ICC International Secretariat in implementing initiatives of public benefit.
“The ICC Green Economy Roadmap represents a comprehensive effort to assist in the development and implementation of policies and actions towards a green economy and to build a platform for future action and collaboration.”
Launched during Rio+20 as an initiative to promote a more common understanding of a green economy, the roadmap outlines 10 conditions and related policy recommendations as a framework to discuss a range of inter-linked policies and actions to transform into a green economy.
These conditions include social, environment and economic innovation; collaboration between all sectors; integrated governance; balancing short-and long-term strategies and multilateralism. The roadmap also exists to share existing best practice and initiate new collaborative activities.
QGBC was launched in 2009 by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, to promote and equip a sustainable building industry for Qatar. Collaborating with ICC Qatar to host the seminar this week was a natural progression as both organisations continue to call for sustainable development and environmental protection.
Dr Alex Amato, Head of Sustainability at QGBC, moderated a panel discussion during representatives of the Qatari business community and Governmental organisations from different sectors including oil and gas, construction and technology shared initiatives and challenges in order to create a comprehensive overview of Qatar’s current sustainability status.
“As an overarching organisation in the sustainability and green building industries in Qatar, QGBC is delighted to work with ICC Qatar to introduce the concept of a green economy to key stakeholders, decision makers and the public in Qatar to create necessary policies, raise awareness about green business and a green economy in the country,” said Dr Amato.
“At QGBC, academics, innovators, researchers, activists and the public, work together to collectively further the cause of the Qatar National Vision 2030. We do this through safeguarding Qatar’s green movement and sustainability in general.”
Andrea Bacher, ICC Policy Manager for the Energy and Environment Commission, who delivered the seminar’s keynote introduction, added: “The role of ICC in Energy and Environment issues is vital for Qatar as its roadmap provides a comprehensive and multidisciplinary effort to clarify and frame the concept of a ‘green economy’ as well as to promote a more common understanding among the country’s residents.”
A number of presentations were delivered during the seminar including from AECOM’s Steven Humphrey, who spoke about the economic impact of adopting sustainable solutions. Others included Anthony Pryde, Exxon Mobil Qatar’s Technical & Engineering Manager; Mohammed Khaled Fakhroo, Senior Energy Policy Analyst at QP; and Nauman Gul, General Manager at Technomight Qatar.
QGBC is a non-profit, membership-driven organisation dedicated to advocating green building solutions, leading industry research, as well as promoting sustainable practice in the community. Through QGBC, Qatar has joined a network of 80 different countries that run active national green building councils under the umbrella of the World Green Building Council.
