Organisers of Doha UN climate change meeting sign pacts and launch COP18 logo

Ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2012 (COP18/CMP8 Doha) scheduled to be held at the Qatar National Convention Centre from November 26 to December 7, the organisers before yesterday signed four different agreements with key groups that will be providing essential services to delegates as well as handling the logistics throughout the event.

Close to 20,000 participants, comprising high-level delegations including heads of governments, more than 5,000 representatives of non-governmental organisations as well as some 1,500 journalists from the region and around the world are expected at the COP18/CMP8 Doha.

Signing the agreements on insurance, emergency treatment, transportation and a sustainability expo, on behalf of the COP18/CMP8 Doha President and Chairman of the higher organising committee HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, were COP18/CMP8 Doha general co-ordinator Abdulaziz bin Ahmed al-Malki and Fahad bin Mohamed al-Attiya.

Al-Malki, who is also the executive organising committee chairman signed the contingency and event liability insurance agreement with Al-Koot Insurance and Reinsurance Company represented by its chief executive officer Ahmed Rafee al-Emadi.

The official also signed a transport agreement with Mowasalat represented by its chairman and managing director Jassem Saif Ahmed al-Sulaiti. Mowasalat will provide transport services to conference visitors, offering more than 400 buses, including electric, hybrid and gas-powered buses.

Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony held at the Four Seasons Hotel yesterday, al-Malki said: “We are very pleased to announce our landmark agreements with these four parties today. We are sure that these companies, each with a strong track record in their sectors, will help to ensure that COP18/CMP8 Doha is a logistical success.”

Also at the event, al-Attiya, who is the organising sub-committee chairman and the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)’s Corporate Communications executive director Mohamed Mubarak al-Noaimi, signed the third agreement on providing medical services to the delegates.

Under the agreement, all dignitaries, delegates, staff, media representatives, visitors and workforce teams taking part in the conference will receive free access to emergency treatment during their stay in Doha. And to facilitate easy access to the healthcare services, part of the agreement was that the conference accreditation cards will be considered as health cards thus granting any holder to automatic access to the service.

Al-Attiya and IFP Qatar general manager George Ayache later signed an agreement on organising the Qatar Sustainability Expo – an exhibition showcasing the brightest innovators and leaders on environmental issues in the region. The Expo to run alongside COP18/CMP8 Doha at the Doha Exhibition Centre, will provide visitors and members of the international press with an opportunity to explore programmes, projects and companies that are leading the way in sustainable environmental initiatives, climate adaptation and mitigation.

Speaking before signing the agreements, al-Attiya mentioned that the organisers of the conference intended to show the world that Qatar is much more than just a host nation for such rounds of negotiations. He said: “As a coastal dry land nation, we are 100% dependent on sea for our freshwater and more than 90% dependent on technology and trade for our food, therefore, Qatar stands at the front-lines for the impacts of climate change and we are committed to actively leading in the research, technology and international collaboration required to make progress.”

He also mentioned that the conference will, for the first time, attempt at being paperless as much as possible in order to demonstrate what it stands to achieve. Al-Attiya added: “Having the best support possible from these leading companies is yet one more step to making sure the conference has access to the best facilities and services available.”

source: Gulf Times

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