Doha, October 26 (QNA) - Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), organized three specialized sessions within the activities of Qatar Sustainability Week, which is being held from Oct. 23-30.
The Council held its sessions in-person and via video-conferencing, in cooperation with its strategic partners. The first and second sessions, which were organized in partnership with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) and Qatar Tourism, focused on the great opportunity offered by the organization of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to accelerate and advance the process of sustainable development in Qatar, especially in the event and hospitality sectors.
The first session, entitled "Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change - Green Hotels for Qatar, Challenges and Pathways", highlighted the first World Cup tournament, which deals with the role of the hospitality sector and supports green hotel programs as a fundamental pillar in achieving a sustainable tournament in a comprehensive manner.
Speakers from QGBC, SC, and National Tourism Council, Qatar Museums, and the Ministry of Public Health discussed the expansion of the application of sustainability practices in hotels supporting the delivery of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, with the aim of driving the decision-making process and national policies towards a sustainability paradigm shift in the hospitality sector.
During the session, the Qatar Green Building Council and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy issued a report on the results and the best practices and recommendations for the policies that had been reached.
Director of Qatar Green Building Council Eng. Mishaal Al Shammari stressed that this report represents a milestone for the growth of the hospitality sector in the State of Qatar, and suggests steps that this sector can take to be in line with international best practices and turn into a sustainable sector.
He expressed confidence that the report's recommendations will stimulate the sustainable development of the national hospitality sector in a way that supports the country in hosting international events, including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The second session was held under the title "Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change - Eco Events for Qatar, Challenges and Pathways". It addressed the need to develop a guiding framework for organizers on how to manage environmentally friendly events, especially since Qatar has become, over the past decade, a prominent destination for conference and exhibition tourism, and with the national vision that adopts sustainability.
This session enabled those working in the event planning sector to be familiar with the appropriate way to solve current operational challenges in cooperation with local stakeholders, as well as study best practices, through discussions in which Qatar Foundation, Qatar Tourism, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and fischerAppelt Marketing participated.
The QGBC made a presentation on the environmentally friendly event, which represents a measurable guiding tool that is consistent with international standards, in addition to encouraging event owners and organizers to present environmentally sustainable events with the aim of educating stakeholders and the community, and introducing them to best practices, in order to develop a culture of event organization that reduce carbon emissions.
The third session, entitled "Coastal Cities, Climate Change and Adaptive Strategies", was held in partnership with the French Embassy in Doha and the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.
During the session, the impact of climate change upon coastal cities, the possibility of more extreme weather events, and an increase in the average annual temperature were studied. Unless adaptive urban strategies are implemented this will greatly challenge human comfort and health in Qatar and the GCC region.
The adaptive strategies necessary to deliver future resilient and sustainable urban environments in the region's hot and arid climates, were explored during the session. Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC).
HE Ambassador of France to the State of Qatar and representatives from the Qatar Green Building Council, the Global Green Growth Institute, the World Bank, the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, the French National School of Architecture in Marne-la-Vallee, and Leigh & Orange Middle East participated in the discussion.
Qatar Sustainability Week aims to raise awareness among members of society through sustainability-related activities, and highlight the progress made by the State of Qatar in the field of sustainability.
The week constitutes a unique platform to engage stakeholders in the public and private sectors under a comprehensive umbrella, in order to link various sustainability practices and transform dialogues into actual work. It includes a number of seminars, awareness sessions, exhibitions, tours, educational and entertainment events, and activities and initiatives that serve the community. (QNA)