Sustainability

ICC Green Economy Roadmap Launched in Qatar

  • 19 June 2014
ICC Biodiversity

The International Chamber of Commerce Qatar (ICC Qatar) launched the ICC Green Economy Roadmap and the ICC Qatar Energy and Environment Commission on Monday 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, policymakers and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of policies and actions towards a ‘green economy’.

Remy Rowhani, Director General of Qatar Chamber and Secretary General of ICC Qatar, welcomed delegates to the seminar and explained the roadmap’s benefits. “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 the 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 aims 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.

Alex Amato, Head of Sustainability at QGBC, moderated a panel discussion during the seminar during which representatives of the Qatari business community and Governmental organizations 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 organization in the sustainability and green building industries in Qatar, QGBC is delighted to work with ICC Qatar to introduce the concept of green economy to its stakeholders, the decision-makers and the public in Qatar in order to create necessary policies and to raise awareness of green business and green economy in the country,” said Mr Amato. “At QGBC, academics, innovators, researchers, activists and the public, work together to collectively further 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, said: “The role of ICC in Energy and Environment issues is vital for Qatar as the roadmap provides a comprehensive and multidisciplinary effort to clarify and frame the concept of ‘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’s Technical and Engineering Manager, Mohammed Khalid Fakhroo, Senior Analyst for Energy Policy at QP Nauman Gul and General Manager at Technomight Qatar.