The recycling bins used during COP18/CMP8 at Qatar National Convention Centre. Shaival Dalal
By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: Recycling and environment friendly efforts at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) have taken a new turn as it hosts the COP18/CMP8 climate talks.
As the eighth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, that set binding obligations on the industrialised countries to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases, QNCC too has enhanced its efforts toward sustainability.
“The venue is most environment friendly, yet we have enhanced it to meet the UN requirements,” said a QNCC official.
Doha’s commonly used plastic water bottles are been replaced with cups made of recyclable paper, the recycle bins are placed more prominently, the centre’s cartulary has turned to natural cellulose products. As soon as the delegates pass the security screening, they find a little hut made of wood, where they could take a quiz on recycling and find information about how recycling is done in Qatar.
Biodegradable and environmentally friendly food packaging used in QNCC’s new catering outlets are prominent. Their white paper cups and brown food packs are interestingly a new concept at the QNCC.
The centre’s 21 ‘grab and go’ food outlets will be using 37,500 bowls made from sugarcane residue, 20,200 salad bowls and 30,000 drinking cups for cold drinks produced from natural starch, 120,000 knives, forks and spoons along with 150,000 coffee cups made from natural cellulose, are among some of the CO2 neutral, biodegradable items.
Even some of the cleaning detergents used have become also eco-friendly for the COP18/CMP8.
Recycling is not a new concept at the QNCC as it recycles plastic, oil and paper waste.
Plastic waste is sent to Doha Plastic, oil waste generated from the kitchen is sent to Qatar Reclamation Oil Plant and paper and carton waste are collected by Talib Papers for recycling.
The first of its kind in the region, the QNCC’s design itself includes 3,500 sq m of solar panelling which will provide up to 12.5 percent of the centre’s energy needs across the complex each day during the Climate Change conference.
The roof’s impressive solar energy system produces 1,225 MWh of electricity and offsets 1,140 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. This equates to an impressive 40.8 MWh of electricity produced during the 12 days of the OP18/CMP8 event.
The Peninsula
