The GCC Program: The first international carbon credit and sustainable development program
Dr Yousef Alhorr, founding chairman of the Global Carbon Council (GCC) speaks to Aparajita Mukherjee on the Council’s role in promoting sustainability through issuance of carbon credits to high-quality projects that have demonstrated their additionality in the reduction and removal of GHG emissions contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dr Yousef Alhorr, founding chairman of the Global Carbon Council (GCC), says that the GCC Program has received multiple projects for the issuance of carbon credits from Gulf countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates BL: Talk us through the Global Carbon Council and Qatar’s role in this initiative. Dr Alhorr: The Global Carbon Council (GCC) is the first international carbon credit and sustainable development program based in the Global South. The GCC Program is contributing to a more sustainable and low-carbon future by issuing carbon credits to projects from around the world that add to sustainable development. The Program only accepts high-quality projects that have demonstrated their additionality in the reduction and removal of GHG emissions while ensuring that project construction and operations do not cause any net harm to the environment and society and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a result, the Program is helping to drive much-needed climate finance into projects that reduce and remove emissions. GCC is accredited by the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for their CORSIA scheme and by the International Carbon Reduction and Offsetting Alliance (ICROA). GCC presently issues carbon credits aimed to serve voluntary carbon markets and CORSIA, but soon, it will issue emission reductions eligible under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement that host countries will transfer as internationally transferable mitigation outcomes (ITMOs) to the buyer countries to meet the targets of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and to the private/corporate sector organizations for meeting carbon neutrality and net zero commitments. Having received 1,500+ projects from 45 countries spanning South and East Asia, MENA, Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Caribbean region, GCC aims to issue in excess of 2 billion carbon credits in next eight years’ time to help meet the aim of a net-zero world. The carbon market initiative was established by the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD), under Qatar’s leadership. Although originating from Qatar, GCC’s scope is global. It also plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between developed and developing nations in carbon market participation. BL: Being a top producer and exporter of hydrocarbons, how does this initiative tie in with global long-term sustainability from the Qatari perspective? Dr Alhorr: GCC Program is an independent carbon standard which acts primarily on project basis to issue carbon credits in any part of the world. The scope of GCC spans beyond the geography of Qatar. Over the years, the program has become one of the leading key players in the carbon markets serving voluntary as well as compliance markets. Gas exporting countries including Qatar and members of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) can benefit from the methodologies that GCC is promoting regarding the early retirements of coal plants, carbon capture and storage (CCS) or fuel switch to cleaner low embodied carbon fuels which can drive short- to medium-term decarbonization goals for countries and corporates alike. Key areas of focus for gas producing nations such as Qatar include energy efficiency, methane management, blue hydrogen and the adoption of CCS technologies. GCC brings carbon marketplace to catalyze climate action in all these areas. BL: Which GHG projects are most critical to accelerate the Gulf region’s low-carbon growth? Dr Alhorr: The Gulf region has significant potential for emission reduction projects due to its vast natural resources, technological capabilities, and increasing commitment to sustainability. The critical GHG mitigation projects in the GCC include Renewable Energy expansion, CCS, Blue and Green Hydrogen/Ammonia Production, Energy Efficiency in Industry, Flare Gas Reduction in Oil/Gas Industry, Green Buildings, Energy Efficient Chillers, Refrigerant Switch to non-GWP Gases, Mass Transport and Electric Vehicles, Waste and Wastewater Management, Plugging the abandoned oil wells and Greenhouses for agriculture. As per the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) report, Gulf countries could save up to 136 million tons of CO₂ annually by 2030 through renewable deployment, one of the major areas of the Gulf region’s mitigation sector. Further, with many geological storages of depleted oil reservoirs and saline aquifers, there is great potential for CCS. Accelerated growth of all these clean and green sector projects is very important for the region to achieve a low-carbon future and economic diversification. The GCC Program has received multiple projects for carbon finance support for the Gulf countries covering Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Many of these received projects are either registered or at different stages of active evaluation. Role of S&P and Climate Impact X in the new agreement “The strategic tri-party agreement between GCC, S&P Global Commodity Insights (SPGCI), and Climate Impact X (CIX) aims to enhance carbon market services and improve liquidity. SPGCI offers comprehensive registry services to the GCC program. The Environmental Registry platform by S&P plays a critical role in supporting the secure and transparent issuance of carbon credits (ACCs). CIX is a global carbon market solutions provider based in Singapore. CIX’s platform will provide project developers with streamlined access to global buyers and enhance the liquidity of carbon credits issued by GCC. GCC sees value in providing a secure transaction registry (provided by SPGCI) to issue credits and further integration with a robust exchange (CIX) would provide better liquidity opportunity to the sell side (or project developers). By partnering with the two reputable solutions providers, GCC aims to scale its global impact by bringing greater transparency, certainty, and liquidity to the carbon markets.” – Dr Yousef Alhorr, founding chairman of the Global Carbon Council.
“It takes time to make a champion”: Robert Brozin to Gen Z
If Nando’s has one apt descriptor, it’s this: it’s changed the way people think about chicken. And this comes from none other than its co-founder Robert (Robbie) Brozin who wrote a note on LinkedIn nine years back. As son of a businessman, Brozin could take the comfort route of staying on in his father’s business but chose an entrepreneurial path instead. The rest is history, as they say. Nando’s welcomed its co-founder and brand champion, Robbie Brozin, for an exclusive media meet-up at the Salwa Road Casa (Home in Portuguese) — the first Nando’s to open in May 2001, now celebrating over 23 years of serving their world-famous PERi-PERi chicken in Qatar and we caught up with Brozin for a casual chat. Here’s what he had to say! Q: Why did you choose entrepreneurship over your dad’s business? Brozin: Entrepreneurship came quite naturally to me…and the Industry my father was in, was taking some strain, with consolidation happening and I felt uncomfortable in it. Q: With over 1,000 Nando’s restaurants worldwide, what are three lessons that apply across sectors? Brozin:1. Find the right local partner who understands the Region you are operating in;2. Keep the fundamentals of the menu the same, but localize the side items and add some local dishes;3. Keep the values and the purpose high on the agenda , never mind the country or region you are operating in. Q: If given a chance, what would you do differently? Brozin: Have a deeper respect for the “Suits” the finance people. In the early days we never listened to them enough. Q: One piece of advice for Gen Z. Brozin: It takes time to make a champion. Q: If you could time travel, where would you go and why? Brozin: To the year 2030…we’ve got an exiting five-year plan, and I’d like to see how it holds out, while I’m still young enough to appreciate and change a few things.
From a board role to a CEO: Dr. Iyabo Tinubu-Karch’s seemingly effortless transition
Dr Iyabo Tinubu-Karch, CEO, Sidra Medicine is no stranger to the world of decision-making while being a medical professional. In a candid conversation, Dr Tinubu-Karch talks about the transition to a CEO and the values it demanded inculcated in her, apart from the role technology plays in diagnostics today. “Technology is the cornerstone of our ability to expand and enhance our clinical services, ensuring we provide exceptional care for women and children.“ “Stepping from the boardroom into the CEO role has been an incredible journey. While my board role focused on strategic oversight and high-level decisions, my current position has immersed me in the daily operations of Sidra Medicine. This deeper involvement has provided invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities we face, which allows me to ensure our teams have the necessary resources to excel in patient care, research, and education,” says Dr Iyabo Tinubu-Karch, CEO, Sidra Medicine. One of the biggest shifts for Dr Tinubu-Karch has been getting to know the people on a deeper level. Witnessing their commitment firsthand is truly inspiring and reinforces her responsibility to foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment, according to Dr Tinubu-Karch, who actively seeks input from diverse perspectives within the organisation, believing as she does that this collective wisdom leads to more informed and effective decision-making. “Healthcare is a dynamic field. As CEO, I need to make sure that we as an institution are agile and adaptable. This means being committed to nurturing a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. By embracing change and fostering a growth mindset, we can ensure that Sidra Medicine remains at the forefront of women’s and children’s healthcare,” informs Dr Tinubu-Karch. On the role that technology plays in advancing clinical care at Sidra Medicine, Dr Tinubu-Karch is forceful about Sidra Medicine’s commitment to embracing the latest technological advancements based as it is on the belief that advanced technology is essential for the institution to remain a leader in patient care, adding, “Technology is the cornerstone of our ability to expand and enhance our clinical services, ensuring we provide exceptional care for women and children.” Dr Tinubu-Karch adds that Sidra Medicine has become a regional pioneer in gene therapy, harnessing the power of technology to revolutionise treatment options for genetic diseases. Our administration of Elevidys for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and our unique position as the sole provider of gene therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in Qatar exemplify this commitment. How has Dr Tinubu-Karch’s background in geriatric medicine shaped your approach to healthcare leadership? Dr Tinubu-Karch informs that her background in geriatric medicine has profoundly influenced her approach to healthcare leadership. She details, “In geriatrics, you learn to consider not only the immediate medical issues but also the broader context of a patient’s life – how their environment, family support, mental well-being, and social circumstances all influence their health. This perspective is essential for providing compassionate, effective care, and it informs how I lead a multidisciplinary team, with a collaborative agenda at a healthcare institution like Sidra Medicine.” Geriatric medicine, Dr Tinubu-Karch adds, emphasises long-term health and quality of life, not just treating immediate symptoms. “This philosophy is central to Sidra Medicine’s approach. We’re not only focused on acute interventions but also on providing sustainable, comprehensive care that supports the overall well-being of our patients and their families. My background has instilled in me a deep respect for the continuity of care, which we strive to deliver at every stage of a patient’s journey here,” says Dr Tinubu-Karch. Innovations in healthcare At Sidra Medicine, innovation is at the heart of our mission to provide exceptional care for children and women. Dr Tinubu-Karch talks about several ways in which Sidra Medicine is constantly striving to achieve new milestones and push the boundaries of healthcare through several key initiatives. One key area is our Clinical Trials Program, which focuses on trials directly benefiting children in the Arab region, informs Dr Tinubu-Karch. The trials could offer children the chance to receive beneficial treatment whether it is a new drug, therapy, device or procedure before it becomes widely available, she says, adding, “Our programme addresses the historical lack of research for the Arab population, enabling us to develop personalised and effective treatments.” In tandem, Sidra Medicine has also established the first pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) programme in Qatar, in partnership with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Additionally, our precision medicine initiatives leverage genomic data to personalise care plans, using advanced technologies such as Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to identify disease-linked genetic variations and Zebrafish Functional Genomics Facility for rapid gene mutation identification. We are strategically integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into our operations to empower our patients and optimise our workflow. Global healthcare trends in women’s and children’s health
Qatari AI market projected to reach US$28.04m in 2024
Qatar is in the throes of huge inter-sectoral investments and programmes on artificial intelligence (AI) spanning information technology, telecom, education, venture capital, healthcare, energy and finance with Qatar government’s US$2.5 billion investment in data and AI, outlining its ambition to generate US$11 billion for the national economy and creating 26,000 jobs. While the market size in the AI market is projected to reach US$428.40 million in 2024 with an annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2030) of 28.66 percent, resulting in a market volume of US$1,943.00 million by 2030, the national investment of US$2.5 billion is tipped to create 26,000 jobs in the country. These data were released by a joint report by Invest Qatar and global consulting firm Accenture at the inaugural World Summit AI – Qatar 2024. The report has furthered that with the thrust on Qatar is aiming to rank among the top 10 globally on the Digital Competitiveness Index by 2023. This investment swing – with active collaboration between the private and the public sectors on transformative initiatives – in AI is Qatar’s push to move its economy away from its over-reliance on hydrocarbons which, according to the International Trade Administration, “has consistently contributed to over 70 percent of the government of Qatar’s total revenues since 2014, as well as over 80 percent of Qatar’s total exports”. Qatar also ranks first in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for digital governance and mobile internet speeds, supported by Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud, with the launch of AI-specific education programmes and research initiatives, aiming to increase the percentage of highly skilled workers to over 46 percent by 2030. The bedrock laid out by Qatar National Vision 2030 Today’s AI thrust has been a gradual journey that started with the Qatar National Vision 2030 which aimed to create “an advanced society capable of sustaining its development and providing a high standard of living for its people”, a step further taken by the National AI Strategy that was launched in 2019, providing a comprehensive understanding of AI’s pivotal role in shaping the 21st century. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has tirelessly championed an environment conducive to AI innovation, resulting in a flourishing landscape. Numbers talk, and they predict annual growth of 17.4 percent, propelling Qatar’s AI market to an estimated US$58.8 million by 2026. What is AI? AI, a branch of computer science, focuses on creating machines able to perform tasks traditionally requiring human intelligence, and includes a wide range of applications, such as speech recognition, image processing, and autonomous vehicles and has seen rapid growth in recent years due to advancements in technology and increased investment. The AI market includes software, hardware, and services that enable organisations to develop and deploy applications and the market is structured into six sub-markets based on the technology: Source: https://www.statista.com/outlook/tmo/artificial-intelligence/qatar
