LOC17:35
14:35 GMT
DOHA, Nov 26 (KUNA) -- The Sustainability Summit 2017 kicked off in Doha on Sunday with broad participation of practitioners, experts, regulators and researchers.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Qatar's Minister of Energy and Industry Mohammed Al Sada stressed Doha's commitment to world's sustainability accords.
Sustainability has become integral to the plans of the various state sectors, Al Sada said in a statement delivered on his behalf by chair of the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA) Essa bin Hilal Al-Kuwari. He reviewed some of the major work being carried out by sustainability pioneers in Qatar.
He also underlined the importance of the conference as a platform for exchanging views among experts and specialists, as well as setting the proper sustainability frameworks and strategies for the eventual goal of humanity's welfare and maintaining gains for the future generations.
Chairman of Gulf Organization for Research and Development (GORD) Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Summit President, said that the event comes as the Paris Agreement on Climate Change is entering actual executive phase.
GORD has seriously assumed the responsibility of facing the challenge of climate change, in cooperation with many strategic partners, both in Qatar and overseas, since the start of developing the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) in 2007, Alhorr added.
GSAS is the first performance-based system in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, developed for rating the green buildings and infrastructures. The primary objective of GSAS is to create a sustainable built environment, considering the specific needs and context of the region.
After a decade, GSAS, as it is now is one of the most comprehensive systems for assessing sustainability, he noted.
The two-day Sustainability Summit 2017, organized by the GORD, aims to establish a platform for practitioners, experts, regulators and researchers from national and international organizations to share knowledge and ideas, and exchange thoughts and experiences related to enhancement of climate actions and achieve a diversification to low-carbon economy.
The forum offers rich discussions on the technological solutions and policy instruments that the region can adopt to meet its commitment to international community under Paris Agreement of UNFCCC.
In addition, the summit includes the celebration of success of regional players on the sustainability front. (end)
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