Qatar’s national carrier proudly displays environmental credentials at inaugural conference
Global Dryland Alliance Founding Conference held in Doha, Qatar on 15 October
DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways is pleased to be the Official Airline Sponsor of the founding conference of the Global Dryland Alliance (GDA), held in Doha, Qatar on Sunday 15 October. The conference, which took place at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort and Convention Hotel, drew delegates representing more than 25 nations, including ministers of agriculture and environment, as well as representatives of many international organisations.
An initiative of the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Global Dryland Alliance (GDA) is an international organisation established to address issues related to food security and the environmental and economic impacts associated with climate change. These aims are aligned with Qatar’s National Vision 2030, which holds environmental preservation as central to sustainable and responsible future growth.
The conference highlighted the importance of international cooperation as the best way to develop new solutions and improve policies in the field of food security. Through cooperation with countries and organisations committed to ensure food security, the GDA will work to fill the gaps between research and food security policies to help dryland countries suffering from water scarcity, as well as enhance access to reliable resources of food, water, energy, seeds and fertilisers.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are proud to be the Official Airline Sponsor of this important conference, and to support Qatar’s National Vision 2030. We have demonstrated a significant commitment to environmentally sustainable growth and environmental leadership throughout our global airline and airport operations, catering services, retail outlets and hotels. Our carbon reduction, staff education, recycling and re-use initiatives all contribute to an integrated sustainability strategy. Through our partnership with GDA, we hope to help develop global solutions to these shared problems.”
Qatar Airways Cargo has played a key role in enhancing food security for the State of Qatar by airlifting stock and components for food production initiatives from various parts of the world.
As an international organisation, the GDA works with local, regional, and international partners to enhance food security in dryland countries and identify and implement solutions for agricultural, water, and energy challenges these countries face. The founding conference held in Doha showcased the spirit of cooperation and practical collaboration between the parties in attendance.
Qatar Airway’s sponsorship of the GDA founding conference provided key support to this global environmental summit and to delivering the initiatives it champions worldwide.
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Notes to Editors:
About Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is celebrating 20 years of Going Places Together with travellers across its more than 150 business and leisure destinations. The world’s fastest growing airline will add a number of exciting new destinations to its growing network in 2017/18, including Dublin, Nice, Skopje, Sarajevo and many more, flying passengers on board its modern fleet of 200 aircraft.
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was recently named Airline of the Year by the 2017 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named World’s Best Business Class, Best Airline in the Middle East, and World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge.
Qatar Airways is a member of the oneworld global alliance. The award-winning alliance was named the World’s Best Airline Alliance 2015 by Skytrax for the third year running. Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance, oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 150 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.
Oryx One, Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system offers passengers up to 4,000 entertainment options from the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music, games and much more. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its B787, A350, A380, A319 and select A320 and A330 aircraft can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the award-winning airline’s on-board Wi-Fi and GSM service.
Qatar Airways proudly supports a range of exciting international and local initiatives dedicated to enriching the global community that it serves. Qatar Airways, the official FIFA partner, is the official sponsor of many top-level sporting events, including the FIFA 2018 and 2022 World Cups, reflecting the values of sports as a means of bringing people together, something at the core of the airline’s own brand message - Going Places Together.
Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s third largest international cargo carrier, serves 60 exclusive freighter destinations worldwide via its world-class Doha hub and also delivers freight to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations globally with 203 aircraft. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet includes eight Airbus A330 freighters and 12 Boeing 777 freighters.
For further information, please contact:
Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 4022 2200