Allen speaking during the seminar while other speakers look on
The Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) has launched a new interest group - the Green Infrastructure Interest Group- that will help encourage the appreciation of Qatar’s natural systems and their role in the landscape architecture profession.
The Green Infrastructure Interest Group (GIIG) is also aimed at fostering the development of green infrastructure as a national resource capable of delivering a wide range of environmental, economic and social benefits.
The scope of green infrastructure includes storm water management, carbon sequestration, urban heat island mitigation, improved air quality, wildlife habitat creation, improved health and wellbeing, enhanced community ownership, climate change adaptation, utilisation of renewable energy sources and sustainable waste water treatment.
GIIG will perform a vital role in discussing a wide range of challenges faced in shaping Qatar’s built environment and moving the country towards Qatar National Vision 2030, which includes effective sustainable urban planning, climate change adaptation and mitigation, cultural relevance and social
well-being.
Speaking about the initiative, QGBC Research and Innovation Committee chairman Dr Alex Amato said: “In line with the environment pillar in the Qatar’s National Development Strategy 2011-2016, this interest group complements national and regional efforts to utilise our current and future green infrastructure.”
He said that the initiative demonstrated the value of green infrastructure investment and reiterated the benefits and need for sustainable investment in the field.
“This group also wants to encourage the appreciation of Qatar’s natural systems and their role in the landscape architecture profession,” he added.
As part of the activities launching the group, a seminar under the theme “natural systems” was held yesterday.
During the seminar, leading environmental thinkers in Qatar comprising Atkins Landscape Qatar head and GIIG acting chair Lee Allen, Introductory Biology Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar’s Dr Renee Richer, Qatar University’s College of Engineering Architecture and Urban Planning assistant professor Dr Anna Grichting, United Nations for Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) project officer Mark Sutcliffe, BG2 Global Qatar technical manager Greg Hills and Msheireb Properties senior sustainability officer Andrew Kent, made presentations on environmental challenges being faced in the 21st century.
While making a presentation on “Introduction into Green Infrastructure”, Allen emphasised that the QGBC’s leadership in encouraging industry collaboration through specialised interest groups in the built environment was both vital and significant.
“Through this interest group, we want to create awareness of the benefits of green infrastructure sustainable design and practice in Qatar. The importance of natural systems to our lives is highlighted through our ‘working with nature not against it’ approach to development that is certainly more relevant now than ever before,” he
pointed out.
Allen added that the project’s success in achieving any type of sustainable rating lies in the combined efforts from all sectors of the country in recognising and striving for sustainable best practice.
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