Doha was abuzz with talks of climate actions and sustainability at Green Expo Forum 2016 organized by Gulf Organisation for Research and Development. Sustainability leaders and representatives of prominent international bodies gathered at the Ritz-Carlton Doha to attend the three-day event that unfolded on 7 November, 2016.

The opening day of the forum was packed with over four hundred attendees including energy experts, researchers, government officials and practitioners as well as the mainstream media. Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of GORD, H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General SC, H.E. Eng. Nasser bin Ali Al Mawlawi, President of  Public Works Authority (Ashghal), H.E. Eng. Mohammed bin Saud Mohammed Al Musallam, President of Qatar Standardization and Metrology Authority, Eng. Essa Mohammed Ali Kaldari, CEO Lusail Real Estate Development Company and Mr. Federico Addiechi, Head of Sustainability, FIFA spoke on topics related to regional climate actions, implementation of Paris Agreement and carbon neutrality of sports events. While the second day started dialogue on sustainable built environment with focus on renewable energy and related technology.

The Green Expo Forum 2016 was the beginning of a consecutive annual event, expected to be on a much bigger scale next year with Green Expo 2017. This initiative is launched by GORD in the framework of its focus on making Qatar a model of leadership in sustainable development in the region, inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, prince of the country, in line with the pillars of the national vision of 2030 in environmental resource management, ensuring harmony between economic, social and human development.

The three-day expo in 2017 will gather hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of delegates including professionals, experts and decision makers from public and private sector, on a global platform related to sustainable built environment, green mobility, clean energy & industry, green living, and research & innovation in order to exchange products and ideas in the sustainability sphere to collaboratively address the specific needs of the region.

Thus, GORD’s 360 degrees approach to sustainability not only takes up the development of rules and regulation in form of Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), but also presents cutting edge solutions through its research facility Technohub as well as introduces a collaborative platform like Green Expo to enable the local and regional consultants and contractors to learn about latest technologies and do business.