The Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD) hosted representatives from the Gulf countries with an aim to enhance the region’s green building strategy.

The Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD) hosted the 10th meeting of GSO Technical Subcommittee for Sustainable Building (TC06-SC1) – a regional body chartered for developing green buildings related standards and schemes. Marked by the presence of representatives from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Yemen, the two-day event took place on May 8 and 9, at the Chedi Katara Hotel in Doha. As a chair of the GSO Technical Subcommittee for Sustainable Buildings, GORD organized the event on behalf of GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) and Qatar General Organization for Standardization (QS). The event was an opportunity for representatives from different Gulf countries to come together and discuss important issues related to sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and the implementation of international standards.

Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Chairman of the Committee and Founding Chairman of GORD, welcomed the attendees attending in person as well as those joining virtually.  He highlighted the meeting’s crucial role in charting the committee's current plans and strategy in the coming years. “Our goal is to expand the scope of our work and ensure that we are addressing all relevant aspects of sustainable building practices. The progress made by this committee over the years is a testament to the importance of collaboration in tackling region-wide environmental challenges,” said Dr. Alhorr.

Among other members of the committee who attended the meeting were representatives of GCC Standardization Organization (GSO), Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO), Yemen Standardization, Metrology & Quality Control Organization (YSMO), KOWSMD – Public Authority for Industry in Kuwait, and Qatar General Organization for Standardization (QGOSM).

Members in the meeting discussed several issues, including the progress on new international standards and their importance to the subcommittee for issuing specifications related to green buildings. They also delved into plans and strategies for the implementation of sustainability standards to the latest projects in the Gulf region. Members of the meeting also shared thoughts on the committee’s future strategy to involve aspects that were not taken into account previously, thereby offering more comprehensiveness to the committee’s activities and specifications. These aspects include infrastructure, planning considerations, site design, environmental management, and product design to facilitate reuse.

During their presentation, GORD representatives shared the organization’s latest projects aimed at developing sustainable built environment. GORD experts also shared their experiences related to green buildings, including the topics of environmental labels of products, evaluation system for the operations of existing buildings. They highlighted the progress of Qatar’s construction sector towards sustainable built environment, with 2,000+ projects registered under the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS).

Members of the technical committee, representing Gulf countries, also shared insights on the progress of green building industry in their countries. The knowledge exchange exercise was aimed at benefiting the entire Gulf region in building competencies and resources needed to accelerate green transformation in the building sector.

The 10th meeting of the GSO Technical Subcommittee for Sustainable Building concluded with detailed discussions of 26 draft standards in the committee's work plan for 2022. The meeting represents a significant milestone for the development of green building standards and schemes in the Gulf countries. The discussions and plans made during the meeting demonstrate the Gulf countries' commitment to pursuing sustainable development practices and promoting green building design and construction. By integrating sustainability standards into the latest projects in the region, the Gulf countries are taking a proactive approach to addressing environmental challenges and creating more resilient and livable communities for their citizens.