Member Corner
Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Secretary General Dr. Yury Sentyurin visited Qatar Football Association’s Headquarters and met with the Association’s General Secretary Mr. Mansoor Al Ansari. The meeting was aimed at exchanging information about both organizations’ activities and establishing a platform for constructing a mutually beneficial dialogue.
During the discussion, Dr. Sentyurin especially highlighted the Forum’s increased focus on activities related to its environmental agenda and the interconnection between addressing issues related to climate change and practicing sports as an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Along the same lines, the Football World Cup, to be held in Qatar in 2022, made a fitting subject for discussion. With a commitment to environmental issues, aimed at realizing the FIFA Green Goal initiative, Qatar has declared the upcoming World Cup to be the first “carbon neutral” one. The proclaimed goals are expected to be achieved through the implementation of the list of “Sustainability facts about Qatar2022 stadiums”, containing initiatives such as water conservation, energy-efficient LED lights and demountable stadiums made out of shipping containers.
The discussion had particular importance in the light of the acknowledgment of the GECF as an Observer Intergovernmental Organization to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at COP24 in December 2018, and in the context of preparations to launch the GECF climate initiative.
Considering the emphasis Qatar places on all components of a healthy lifestyle and preserving the environment, both sides expressed an intention to further cooperate.