At Qatar Expo, Saudi firms highlight progress toward sustainability

The Saudi pavilion at the UN Climate Change Conference 2012 (COP18) in Qatar recently hosted COP18 President Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah.
The visit was conducted as part of the inauguration ceremonies for the Qatar Sustainability Expo, where Al-Attiyah was received by Khalid Abuleif, sustainability advisor to Saudi Arabia's minister of petroleum and mineral resources and chief negotiator for climate agreements.
Al-Attiyah was accompanied by Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry; and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres.
The Qatar Sustainability Expo, being held at the Doha Exhibition Center, runs parallel to the United Nations 2012 Climate Change Conference, COP 18/CMP8, offering delegates and the general public the opportunity to experience the latest in environmental sustainability solutions and technology.
The Saudi pavilion, covering a staggering 2,000 square meter space within the exhibition hall and made mostly of environmentally friendly materials, provides a glimpse into the Kingdom's progress toward sustainability.
Al-Attiyah was given a comprehensive tour of the Saudi pavilion, where he was introduced to energy, technology and environmental specialists who offered him an outline of the pavilion's activities and Saudi Arabia's various initiatives.
Under the theme of "Managing Energy for a Sustainable Future," the pavilion is split into five sections: "Carbon Management and Energy Technologies," "Energy Efficiency," "Energy Sustainability," "Renewable Energy" and "Clean Fuel and Gas Recovery, Flare Management and Minimization."
Each of these areas includes leading subject matter experts available to speak with interested parties about the latest developments within the five themes, and share examples of Saudi Arabia's vision for a cleaner, brighter and better future.
The seven Saudi companies and organizations showcasing their latest achievements and projects are Saudi Aramco, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY), and Clean Development Mechanism, KSA DNA - Designated National Authority.