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Qatar Stars League plans to take sports to new horizons through carbon neutrality with GORD

Qatar Stars League plans to take sports to new horizons through carbon neutrality with GORD

Boosting collective efforts to achieve sustainable development, Qatar Stars League (QSL) and Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday. Happening a day ahead of Qatar National Sports Day 2020, the signing ceremony took place on February 10 at QSL headquarter in the presence of media representatives and senior leadership from the partnering organizations. Behind this MoU is QSL’s vision to become a carbon neutral league in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, as well as the country’s commitment to organize fully carbon neutral FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

The agreement was inked by Mr. Hani Taleb Ballan, CEO of QSL and Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of GORD. Through this MoU, the organizations plan to work towards multiple areas of cooperation. As the sustainability leader driving climate actions in the region, GORD will assist QSL in accounting, curbing and offsetting carbon footprints. This will be made possible by working to reduce GHG emissions in QSL’s sport events and QSL offices, as well as offsetting unavoidable GHG emissions through the use of high quality Qatari carbon credits issued by Global Carbon Council (GCC) – an initiative of GORD and MENA region’s first and only voluntary carbon offsetting and carbon registry platform.

Sharing a joint agenda to foster sustainability in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, the two organizations intend to arrange a series of activities to promote awareness on best practices for environmental conservation. Benefiting from GORD’s expertise as the developer and evaluator of green building certifications, QSL will be implementing the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), the green building rating system for operations in its venues and facilities. As such, it is significant to declare that the league is headquartered in Al Bidda Tower that boasts of being the first office tower in the country to receive the GSAS Operations certificate with platinum rating.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Hani Taleb Ballan appreciated GORD for its role in promoting activities aimed at combating climate change, preserving the environment and encouraging best sustainability practices. He highlighted that the partnership originated from QSL’s keenness to serve the community by developing working mechanisms aimed at attaining common goals. The aim of this collaboration, he added, is to create a model demonstrating the transformation of a sports organization and how this change can impact the wider community, present and future generations. Mr. Ballan also acknowledged GORD’s efforts in steering the country towards sustainable development. Praising GORD’s work in sustainability landscape, he said that the organization has earned the trust of leading companies and stakeholders responsible for top projects such as the 2022 World Cup stadiums.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Dr. Yousef Alhorr said,

Sustainability as we know is no longer a passing trend. It is a pressing need of the day. Like other industries, sports sector has also realized the immense potential green practices hold. Today, we are honored to collaborate with Qatar Stars League, and have no doubt in its transformative power. We are positive that this partnership will reap great rewards not just for the sports community but the entire society at large.

Boosting collective efforts to achieve sustainable development, Qatar Stars League (QSL) and Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday. Happening a day ahead of Qatar National Sports Day 2020, the signing ceremony took place on February 10 at QSL headquarter in the presence of media representatives and senior leadership from the partnering organizations. Behind this MoU is QSL’s vision to become a carbon neutral league in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, as well as the country’s commitment to organize fully carbon neutral FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022. The agreement was inked by Mr. Hani Taleb Ballan, CEO of QSL and Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of GORD. Through this MoU, the organizations plan to work towards multiple areas of cooperation. As the sustainability leader driving climate actions in the region, GORD will assist QSL in accounting, curbing and offsetting carbon footprints. This will be made possible by working to reduce GHG emissions in QSL’s sport events and QSL offices, as well as offsetting unavoidable GHG emissions through the use of high quality Qatari carbon credits issued by Global Carbon Council (GCC) – an initiative of GORD and MENA region’s first and only voluntary carbon offsetting and carbon registry platform. Sharing a joint agenda to foster sustainability in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, the two organizations intend to arrange a series of activities to promote awareness on best practices for environmental conservation. Benefiting from GORD’s expertise as the developer and evaluator of green building certifications, QSL will be implementing the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), the green building rating system for operations in its venues and facilities. As such, it is significant to declare that the league is headquartered in Al Bidda Tower that boasts of being the first office tower in the country to receive the GSAS Operations certificate with platinum rating. Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Hani Taleb Ballan appreciated GORD for its role in promoting activities aimed at combating climate change, preserving the environment and encouraging best sustainability practices. He highlighted that the partnership originated from QSL’s keenness to serve the community by developing working mechanisms aimed at attaining common goals. The aim of this collaboration, he added, is to create a model demonstrating the transformation of a sports organization and how this change can impact the wider community, present and future generations. Mr. Ballan also acknowledged GORD’s efforts in steering the country towards sustainable development. Praising GORD’s work in sustainability landscape, he said that the organization has earned the trust of leading companies and stakeholders responsible for top projects such as the 2022 World Cup stadiums. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Dr. Yousef Alhorr said, “Sustainability as we know is no longer a passing trend. It is a pressing need of the day. Like other industries, sports sector has also realized the immense potential green practices hold.  Today, we are honored to collaborate with Qatar Stars League, and have no doubt in its transformative power. We are positive that this partnership will reap great rewards not just for the sports community but the entire society at large.”

Mr. Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, Executive Director of Competitions and Football Development at QSL, said,

In alignment with the Qatar National Vision 2030, at QSL, we take the environmental crisis seriously, acknowledge our ecological responsibility, and address it by taking actions that preserve the environment, promote sustainability and apply best practices to create a better future for generations to come through the passion for football. We seek to reach our goal of being the best league on and off the field and part of it is becoming the first league in the world to be carbon neutral to inspire other leagues, federations, sport clubs and organizations in Qatar and around the World to follow.

GORD-QSL MoU comes against a backdrop of global sporting organizations pushing for greater environmental responsibility and superior sustainability standards. Amidst the international discourse around climate change and carbon neutrality, stadiums across the world are increasingly being designed, constructed and operated in an environmentally responsible manner. In the same vein, the global sporting goods industry is making a transition into ecofriendly sourcing alternatives among other sustainable practices.

Driven by its mission to develop the regional football scene, QSL manages 12 professional football clubs. GORD, on the other hand, leads the sustainability milieu through knowledge dissemination, capacity building, R&D and sustainability certifications. With the strategic relationship now formalized, partnership between GORD and QSL is expected to bring to the fore a range of joint ventures in areas of sports and the built environment.

بموجب مذكرة تفاهم مع المنظمة الخليجية للبحث والتطوير، "دوري نجوم قطر" تخطط لتصبح أول رابطة كروية في العالم محايدة الكربون

Qatar Stars League plans to take sports to new horizons through carbon neutrality with GORD

د. يوسف الحر: المجتمع القطري والرياضي سيجني ثمار هذه الشراكة النوعية

من أجل تعزيز الجهود المشتركة لتحقيق التنمية المستدامة، وقبل يوم من الاحتفال باليوم الرياضي للدولة، أعلنت كلٌ من مؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر (QSL) والمنظمة الخليجية للبحث والتطوير (جورد) عن توقيع مذكرة تفاهم، والتي تهدف الى تحقيق رؤية دوري نجوم قطر في أن تصبح أول رابطة كروية على مستوى العالم محايدة للكربون، من خلال العمل على تخفيض الانبعاثات الكربونية في الاستادات والمنشآت الرياضية أثناء المنافسات وخارجها وتطبيق أعلى المعايير وأفضل الممارسات التي تحدّ من انبعاثات الكربون، وهو ما يتواكب مع أهداف رؤية قطر الوطنية 2030، والتزام دولة قطر بتنظيم مونديال كأس العالم 2022 محايد تماماً من الانبعاثات الكربونية.

وقد أقيم حفل التوقيع في مقر مؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر، بحضور قيادات الإدارة التنفيذية في المؤسسات الشريكة وممثلي وسائل الإعلام، حيث قام بتوقيع الاتفاقية السيد/ هاني طالب بلان، الرئيس التنفيذي لمؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر، والدكتور/ يوسف بن محمد الحر، رئيس المنظمة الخليجية للبحث والتطوير.

وبموجب مذكرة التفاهم، سوف تخطط المؤسسات المعنية للتعاون في مجالات متعددة، حيث تقوم المنظمة الخليجية، بصفتها رائدة الاستدامة التي تقود مبادرات مكافحة تغير المناخ في المنطقة، بمساعدة مؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر في حساب الانبعاثات الكربونية والحد من آثارها، وذلك من خلال العمل على تقليل انبعاثات غازات الدفيئة في مكاتب مؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر، وفي الفعاليات الرياضية التي تنظمها، وتعويض هذه الانبعاثات – التي لا يمكن تجنبها – عن طريق استخدام أرصدة الكربون القطرية عالية الجودة الصادرة عن المجلس العالمي للبصمة الكربونية (GCC)، وهو أول برنامج طوعي لتسعير الكربون، أطلقته المنظمة الخليجية للبحث والتطوير في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا، كمنصة مثالية لحساب الانبعاثات الكربونية وتعوضها بإصدار أرصدة إقليمية للكربون، مما يسهل للمعنيين في المنطقة وعلى مستوى العالم تنفيذ إجراءات الحد من تغير المناخ.

ومن خلال تبادل البرامج المشتركة لتعزيز الاستدامة وفق أهداف رؤية قطر الوطنية 2030، تعتزم المنظمة الخليجية للبحث والتطوير ومؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر، تنظيم سلسلة من الأنشطة لتعميق الوعي حول أفضل ممارسات الحفاظ على البيئة، ونظراً لخبرة المنظمة الخليجية كمطور ومقيّم لشهادات المباني الخضراء، ستقوم “دوري نجوم قطر" بتنفيذ معايير المنظومة العالمية لتقييم الاستدامة (جي ساس) لتقييم استدامة المباني ومرافقها وعملياتها التشغيلية، حيث يقع المقر الرئيسي للمؤسسة في برج البدع الذي يتميز بأنه أول برج إداري في قطر حاصل على شهادة “جي ساس للتشغيل".

وتعليقاً على مذكرة التفاهم، أعرب السيد/ هاني طالب بلان عن تقديره للمنظمة الخليجية للبحث والتطوير لدورها في تعزيز ودعم الأنشطة الرامية إلى مكافحة تغير المناخ، والحفاظ على البيئة وتشجيع أفضل ممارسات الاستدامة، مؤكداً أن الشراكة مع المنظمة الخليجية نتيجة طبيعية لحرص مؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر على خدمة المجتمع من خلال تطوير آليات عمل مبتكرة لتحقيق الأهداف المشتركة.

ومن جانبه، قال الدكتور/ يوسف بن محمد الحر، رئيس مجلس إدارة المنظمة الخليجية للبحث والتطوير: “إن الاستدامة كما نعلم لم تعد مجرد فكرة عابرة، بل أصبحت حاجة ملحة في عالم اليوم، مثل الصناعات الأخرى، وهو ما أدركه قطاع الرياضة في أن الممارسات الخضراء التي يمكن أن نقوم بها في حياتنا اليومية تتزايد يوماً بعد يوم، لهذا فإنني أشعر بالفخر والسعادة أيضاً بالتعاون مع مؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر، وليس لدينا شك في قوتها الكبيرة لتغيير المفاهيم حول أهمية الاستدامة من خلال الفعاليات الرياضية التي تحتضنها وتنظمها، متوقعاً أن يجني المجتمع القطري ككل، وليس المجتمع الرياضي فقط، ثمار هائلة من هذه الشراكة النوعية".

Boosting collective efforts to achieve sustainable development, Qatar Stars League (QSL) and Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday. Happening a day ahead of Qatar National Sports Day 2020, the signing ceremony took place on February 10 at QSL headquarter in the presence of media representatives and senior leadership from the partnering organizations. Behind this MoU is QSL’s vision to become a carbon neutral league in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, as well as the country’s commitment to organize fully carbon neutral FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022. The agreement was inked by Mr. Hani Taleb Ballan, CEO of QSL and Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of GORD. Through this MoU, the organizations plan to work towards multiple areas of cooperation. As the sustainability leader driving climate actions in the region, GORD will assist QSL in accounting, curbing and offsetting carbon footprints. This will be made possible by working to reduce GHG emissions in QSL’s sport events and QSL offices, as well as offsetting unavoidable GHG emissions through the use of high quality Qatari carbon credits issued by Global Carbon Council (GCC) – an initiative of GORD and MENA region’s first and only voluntary carbon offsetting and carbon registry platform. Sharing a joint agenda to foster sustainability in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, the two organizations intend to arrange a series of activities to promote awareness on best practices for environmental conservation. Benefiting from GORD’s expertise as the developer and evaluator of green building certifications, QSL will be implementing the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), the green building rating system for operations in its venues and facilities. As such, it is significant to declare that the league is headquartered in Al Bidda Tower that boasts of being the first office tower in the country to receive the GSAS Operations certificate with platinum rating. Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Hani Taleb Ballan appreciated GORD for its role in promoting activities aimed at combating climate change, preserving the environment and encouraging best sustainability practices. He highlighted that the partnership originated from QSL’s keenness to serve the community by developing working mechanisms aimed at attaining common goals. The aim of this collaboration, he added, is to create a model demonstrating the transformation of a sports organization and how this change can impact the wider community, present and future generations. Mr. Ballan also acknowledged GORD’s efforts in steering the country towards sustainable development. Praising GORD’s work in sustainability landscape, he said that the organization has earned the trust of leading companies and stakeholders responsible for top projects such as the 2022 World Cup stadiums. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Dr. Yousef Alhorr said, “Sustainability as we know is no longer a passing trend. It is a pressing need of the day. Like other industries, sports sector has also realized the immense potential green practices hold.  Today, we are honored to collaborate with Qatar Stars League, and have no doubt in its transformative power. We are positive that this partnership will reap great rewards not just for the sports community but the entire society at large.”

فيما قال السيد/ أحمد خليل عباسي، المدير التنفيذي للمسابقات وتطوير كرة القدم في مؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر: “نحن في مؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر، نأخذ الأزمة البيئية على محمل الجد، ونعترف بمسؤوليتنا المجتمعية نحو الحفاظ على البيئة، ونتعامل معها من خلال إجراءات عديدة لتحقيق هذا الهدف، وتعزيز الاستدامة وتطبيق أفضل الممارسات لتحقيق مستقبل أفضل للأجيال القادمة عبر شغفهم بكرة القدم، وكذلك للوصول إلى أهدافنا وطموحاتنا بأن نكون أفضل دوري داخل وخارج الملعب، إذ أنه من خلال هذه المبادرة سيكون دوري نجوم قطر، أول دوري على مستوى العالم محايداً للكربون، ليلهم بذلك بطولات الدوري والاتحادات والنوادي والمؤسسات الرياضية الأخرى في قطر وحول العالم".

هذا، وتأتي مذكرة التفاهم بين المنظمة الخليجية للبحث والتطوير ومؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر، على خلفية مؤسسات رياضية عالمية تضغط من أجل تحمل مسؤولية بيئية أكبر ومعايير استدامة نوعية، حيث أنه في خضم التوجه الدولي حول مكافحة تغير المناخ وحياد الكربون، يتم تصميم الملاعب وبنائها وتشغيلها في جميع أنحاء العالم بطريقة تتوافق مع معايير الاستدامة، وبالمثل تقوم صناعة الأجهزة والمستلزمات الرياضية العالمية بالتحول نحو استخدام مصادر بديلة صديقة للبيئة من ضمن ممارسات مستدامة أخرى.

وانطلاقًا من مهمتها لتطوير المشهد الإقليمي لبطولات كرة القدم، تدير مؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر 12 نادياً محترفاً لكرة القدم، كما تقود المنظمة الخليجية للبحث والتطوير (جورد)، بيئة الاستدامة من خلال نشر المعرفة، وبناء القدرات، والبحث والتطوير، و إصدار شهادات الاستدامة للمباني الخضراء، ومع إضفاء الطابع الرسمي على العلاقة الاستراتيجية بين المنظمة الخليجة والمؤسسة حالياً، فسوف تحقق الشراكة بينهما مجموعة من المشاريع المشتركة في مجالات الرياضة والبيئة العمرانية المستدامة.