Qatar Foundation is celebrating Qatar Environment Day 2019 with a showcase of its role as a driver, leader, and unifier of national efforts to advance sustainability – and the impact its work and partnerships are making in Qatar.

Sustainability-focused research and innovation projects, community initiatives and achievements were highlighted recently at a special Education City event at Qatar Foundation, attended no less by its Vice Chair and CEO, HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani.

With sustainability vital to realising Qatar’s economic and social vision, QF is at the forefront of supporting the nation’s sustainable development, and empowering Qatar’s community to adopt sustainable lifestyles. It is a theme reflected in every aspect of its mission – education, science and community development. QF is also instrumental in connecting and uniting the efforts of organisations throughout Qatar to build a sustainable future for the nation, aimed at increasing their impact and public benefit.

The QF Education Ecosystem

Throughout QF’s education ecosystem, sustainability is a core theme, with schools cultivating understanding of its importance, and higher education programmes such as those under the Sustainable Development Division of QF member Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) College of Science and Engineering focusing on energy, environment and social sustainability issues.

Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), also under HBKU, has developed measures to monitor Qatar’s air quality and provide valuable information to decision-makers and the public, and launched a pilot project to supply green energy to local farms. The QEERI Solar Consortium is providing a platform for testing solar-based technology in desert conditions.

Another QF member, Qatar Green Building Council, has trained more than 4,500 people on sustainability-focused topics since 2014, with its Qatar Sustainability Awards recognising contributors to sustainable development, greener lifestyles, and environmental protection in Qatar.

Among community-focused sustainability initiatives is the ‘Ghars’ campaign, led by QF member Qur’anic Botanic Garden, enabling people to join and plant 2,022 trees in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™. 

Education City’s renewable energy network, including solar photovoltaic systems and wind turbines, facilities with the world’s highest green building ratings, open recreational spaces, and environmentally-friendly workplace practices, QF has, in itself, set up a good, sustainable example within its own environment.

Aside from these, QF is also drawing sustainability-driven agreements with partners like KAHRAMAA and Siemens, and with Tarsheed, to pave the way for more ‘green’ cars in Qatar hopefully, by 2022. 

Sustainability is crucial to the future of Qatar, in terms of protecting the environment, diversifying the economy, strengthening society, and enhancing  resilience and capacity to address national challenges, according to Mohammed Abdulaziz Al Naimi, Chief Operations Officer at QF.

That is why sustainability is a common thread running through all the pillars of Qatar’s national development vision, and as a key player in realising this vision, Qatar Foundation is a driver and leader of sustainability in all its forms. This is reflected today, as we showcase how sustainability in Qatar is being advanced through QF’s own efforts, and how we are partnering with organisations to collectively increase our impact.

The combined strengths of all key players and the enhanced contribution of everyone to a more sustainable Qatar show that achieving true sustainability is not just a national goal but a national, collective responsibility.

For updates on QF’s sustainability programmes, visit their website at qf.org.qa.