Event sheds light on Qatar’s green building vision
Originally published in Gulf Times on March 3, 2011
Qatar’s commitment to become the region’s green capital got a fresh impetus with the first Green Building Solutions Conference & Exhibition (GBS) getting under way yesterday.
The three-day event features a tour of green developments in Doha, a green-award gala dinner, workshops, and seminars, and is organised by Doha-based NGO Barwa & Qatari Diar Research Institute (BQDRI).
“Close to 300mn people in the Middle East now live in urban setting, causing significant rise in building demands. It is our responsibility to protect our communities,” Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company’s Group CEO Eng. Mohamed al-Hedfa said at the opening.
BQDRI founder and managing director Dr Youssef al-Horr was candid: “The climate change data are clear – we are in a global environmental crisis, and building design and operations must be a key part of the response.”
Eng. Ali Abdulla al-Abdulla, assistant undersecretary for Planning Affairs at the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning, said: “Inspired by the Qatar National Vision 2030, the planning and urban development sector rigorously sought, over the past years, to develop the national framework for urban development, which is designed to create a living environment that provides the best to all segments of society.”
“We believe that the comprehensive urban plan will undoubtedly create an integrated system of plans, policies and physical requirements of the state, its municipalities and its major and subordinate cities,” he added.
The Qatar General Organisation for Standards and Metrology managing director, Dr Mohamed Saif al-Kuwari, while representing the Ministry of Environment, said: “The State of Qatar is distinguished in the Gulf region in its adoption of standards for buildings which are compatible with the foundations of green building.”
Meanwhile, the Green Building Solutions exhibition at the Doha Exhibition Centre was officially inaugurated by HE the Minister of Municipality and Urban Planning, Sheikh Abdurrahman bin Khalifa al-Thani.
The GBS 2011 is being held with a carbon neutral footprint. Officials have said that the carbon dioxide emissions created by the event itself will be offset.
“This (event) is Qatar’s first major sustainable development event. As well as promoting QSAS to an international audience, GBS 2011 provides the opportunity for delegates to share ideas and contribute to the green building agenda in the lead-up to COP17 in South Africa,” Dr al-Horr added.
QSAS, Qatar Sustainability Assessment System, is BQDRI’s unique building rating system, in that it takes into consideration the local climate and culture.
The GBS exhibition hours are: March 3 - from 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 9pm, and March 4 - from 3pm to 9pm. An event website, greenbuildingsolutionsdoha.com can also be accessed.
Photocaption: from left: Dr al-Kuwari, Dr al-Horr, Eng. al-Hedfa, and Eng. al-Abdulla … ‘sustainable development is the way to go’
As Published
