Qatar has emerged as a leader in clean energy programs across the Middle East, having instigated numerous initiatives aimed at cultivating highly efficient renewable energy sources, Sabban Property Investments (SPI) said in a statement. Among the latest steps taken by the Qatar government in this regard was the launch of the Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC), an independent non-profit organization committed to developing a sustainable approach to design and development of buildings. Amidst the growing importance of the environmental sector to the region, SPI reaffirmed its carbon neutral strategy, and announced its full commitment towards supporting the government's environmental programs focused on developing a low carbon economy. SPI's state-of-the-art carbon reduction measures for its QR1.2 billion ‘Sabban Towers' have made it the first 100 percent carbon neutral project in the Middle East. It involved a three-phase carbon neutralization campaign that has taken SPI across three continents and resulted in a 15 percent cutback in its carbon footprint and a conclusive offsetting of the remaining emissions of approximately 79,500 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) - the amount of harmful gas the project was calculated to emit over the course of its construction. “The Qatar market is now being eyed by genuine investors who are looking for property investments that will add more value to their investments,” said Nicola Clarke, Environmental advisor, SPI. “By developing a carbon neutral project like ‘Sabban Towers', we are supporting the government in strengthening Qatar's repute as a distinguished residential and investment destination. More importantly, we are providing a model for other developers to follow in terms of environmental corporate responsibility, which will spread the virtue of concern and accountability across the entire industry,” Clarke noted. As one of the only two companies from Qatar who are part of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) - a framework for businesses that are committed to responsible corporate practice - the developer seeks to underline the environmental and economic benefits of clean energy to both residents and the entire country. In addition to its affiliation with UNGC, SPI also actively contributes to various environmentally-focused groups in the region, including the Emirates Green Building Council, the Emirates Environmental Group and its CSR network, and the Emirates Wildlife Society - World Wildlife Fund (EWS-WWF). “As the developer behind the Middle East's historic first carbon-neutral development, our plan is to continue to influence other companies by taking more initiatives, which not only ensures responsible building processes, but also spread awareness on the advantages of reducing carbon foot print by investing in renewable energy projects. We are also looking forward to sharing our learnings in our journey towards carbon neutrality with universities and schools, thereby helping educate and inspire the future mobilizers of Qatar's economy,” Clarke pointed out. __
