QGBC head of sustainability Dr Alex Amato delivering a speech. QC director-general and ICC Qatar secretary-general Remy Rowhani in a discussion during the seminar.
The International Chamber of Commerce Qatar (ICC Qatar) has launched the ICC Green Economy Roadmap and the Energy and Environment Commission during a seminar it co-hosted with Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC).
More than 60 professionals and project managers gathered at the Qatar Chamber (QC) to attend the seminar entitled “ICC’s Green Economy Roadmap: Implications for Qatar.”
The seminar also discussed the ICC’s flagship guide, which helps business, policy makers and the public in the development and implementation of policies and actions towards a “green economy.”
QC director-general and ICC Qatar secretary-general Remy Rowhani said they are working closely with the ICC International Secretariat in implementing initiatives of public benefit as part of efforts to serve the business community.
“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,” Rowhani said.
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 Qatar into a green economy.
The conditions include social, environment, and economic innovation; collaboration between all sectors; integrated governance; and balancing short and long-term strategies and multilateralism.
The roadmap also shares existing best practices and initiate new collaborative activities.
QGBC head of Sustainability Dr Alex Amato moderated a panel discussion between representatives of the Qatari business community, governmental organisations, and from the oil and gas, construction, and technology sectors. The participants shared initiatives and challenges 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 to create necessary policies and raise awareness about green business and a green economy in the country,” said Amato.
He added: “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 by safeguarding Qatar’s green movement and sustainability in general.”
ICC policy manager for the Energy and Environment Commission Andrea Bacher said 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.
Several presentations were delivered during the seminar, including AECOM’s Steven Humphrey, who spoke about the economic impact of adopting sustainable solutions.
Other speakers included Exxon Mobil Qatar Technical & Engineering manager Anthony Pryde, QP senior energy policy analyst Mohamed Khaled Fakhroo, and Technomight Qatar general manager Nauman Gul.
QGBC was launched in 2009 by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development to promote and equip a sustainable building industry for Qatar.
It is also 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.
