At the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29) taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD) and its affiliate, the Global Carbon Council (GCC), underscored their commitment to addressing global climate challenges through a series of strategic collaborations with international and regional organizations.

One of the most significant MoUs signed at COP29 was between GORD and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC). This collaboration, formalized during the first week of COP, marks a pivotal step in the effort to foster collaboration across the Global South. Through this MoU, GORD will play a key role in the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Solutions Lab, a groundbreaking initiative designed to leverage the collective expertise of countries in the Global South, while also incorporating triangular cooperation with the Global North. The lab aims to accelerate the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by scaling up innovative, locally driven solutions in sectors such as climate action, clean energy, health, and sustainable agriculture. Guiding the MoU along with other strategic agreements formalized at COP29 is Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of GORD and GCC. Emphasizing the importance of collective action in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, he said, “By joining forces for the creation of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Solutions Lab, we are continuing our commitment to driving innovation and fostering practical solutions that meet the unique development challenges of the Global South.”

In a parallel effort to support sustainable practices in the global events industry, GORD has also entered a strategic collaboration with the Joint Meeting Industry Council (JMIC) through the signing of another MoU at COP29. This agreement seeks to promote the adoption of sustainable event practices, with a specific focus on the Green Events Tool (GET), a web-based tool developed in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). GET allows event organizers to measure and report the environmental impact of their events, focusing on key areas such as energy consumption, transportation, and waste management. By joining forces with JMIC, GORD aims to drive the widespread adoption of GET within the events industry and support the Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) initiative, which calls for the sector to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Through this collaboration, GORD and JMIC will help shape the future of sustainable event management, enabling organizers worldwide to align their activities with the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. Giving context to the collaboration with JMIC, Dr. Yousef Alhorr said, “The events industry is on a growth trajectory that, if left unchecked, could exacerbate its environmental footprint. While the Green Events Tool offers a powerful solution to measure and mitigate that impact, its potential can only be realized when it is adopted at scale.”

In the realm of sustainable energy, GORD has strengthened its commitment to advancing the region’s energy transition through an MoU with the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE). This collaboration aims to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and energy-efficient solutions across the MENA region. The two organizations will collaborate on a variety of initiatives, including promoting energy-efficient building practices, enhancing the region’s capacity for sustainable energy solutions, and supporting the use of GORD’s Energia Suite software to assess and reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. “Given the Arab region’s historical reliance on hydrocarbons, it is critical that we embrace a diverse energy future that includes renewable energy and energy-efficient solutions,” said Dr. Yousef Alhorr, who added that by focusing on knowledge exchange and the development of scalable solutions, GORD and RCREEE will work to position the MENA region as a global leader in energy innovation and climate action.

Further expanding its global reach, GORD’s Climate Action Center of Excellence (CACE) has also signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock in Burundi. This agreement, aimed at developing a robust regulatory framework for carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, marks a significant step in strengthening Burundi’s capacity to engage in international carbon trading. As part of this collaboration, CACE will assist Burundi in establishing transparent and effective carbon market systems through capacity-building activities, technical assistance, and stakeholder engagement. The first phase of this project will focus on developing policies and standards to ensure the credibility and integrity of Burundi’s carbon markets, setting the foundation for the country to actively contribute to global climate mitigation efforts.

With GORD and GCC successfully closing the first week of COP29, the organizations will be present throughout the two weeks of COP29, with its pavilion in  the Blue Zone. While the first week focused on the formalization of key MoUs and agreements, the second week will be dedicated to strategic engagements and technical sessions aimed at accelerating low-carbon solutions. During the second week of COP, GORD’s pavilion located in Booth F03 in the Blue Zone will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, hosting insightful sessions with presentations from leading climate leaders.