Doha:- Microsoft, Qatar Foundation’s Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, and DLA Piper launched the ‘Technology for Sustainability Alliance’ during Qatar Sustainability Week.

The Alliance aims to drive sustainability impact enabled by technology, support organizations to reach their climate goals, encourage organizations and businesses in Qatar in their social responsibility, and advance change through new regulatory and policy recommendations.

Dr. Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, Executive Director, Earthna, said: “Sustainability is at the heart of what we do, and this collaboration will continue our work to engage more organizations and tackle climate change. This partnership will combine the latest technology and skills to develop key themes and strategies to drive Qatar’s sustainability goals.”

Through this agreement, the Alliance will highlight real success stories of technology for sustainability as told by organizations, encourage dialogue between the private and public sectors, and bring people and organizations together for sustainable development. It will also share knowledge and successful practices by organizing talks, training, and conferences, providing ecosystem policy recommendations, and engage with the government to support sustainability-related initiatives.

“Climate change is the defining issue of our time. Addressing it will require collective action and technical innovation on a vast scale,” said Lana Khalaf, General Manager, Microsoft Qatar. “We are committed to Qatar’s long-term sustainability goals to accelerate growth responsibly and develop climate change-related technologies and clean energy. We aim through the Tech for Sustainability Alliance to present a platform where we consolidate efforts and drive policies by leveraging our different expertise, skills and technologies and merging our shared vision of a more sustainable future.”

Dr. Ehab Elsonbaty, Chair of DLA Piper’s US-Middle East Initiative, said: “DLA Piper is dedicated to assisting businesses and organizations in facilitating the transition to a more sustainable future. Instilling a culture of sustainability and accountability will equip businesses, investors, policymakers, and other stakeholders with the capacity to confront complex strategic, legal, financial, and operational sustainability opportunities.”

The founding members intend to set up a network of key stakeholders in Qatar, including but not limited to governmental organizations, NGOs, associations, academia, and corporate stakeholders.

‘Tech for Sustainability Alliance’ comes following the launch of the Microsoft Cloud Datacenter Region in Qatar, which delivers a comprehensive set of enterprise-grade cloud services for developers and businesses of all sizes to create new customer experiences, transform their business and operations, accelerate the pace of innovation, and minimize the environmental footprint of their operational systems and processes.

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About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

For more information (Press only):
Joana Osta, Microsoft Middle East Cluster (MEC)
joanaosta@microsoft.com

Christiane Salem, Stallion Communications
christiane@stallionadv.com

Earthna

Earthna is a non-profit policy research and advocacy center established under Qatar Foundation (QF) to inform and influence national and global sustainability policy.

Bridging technical and research expertise with policy advice and advocacy, Earthna will convene a wide community of technical and research experts, government, policy and decision makers, businesses, multilateral institutions, and civil society to generate a more sustainable future.

Earthna runs multidisciplinary programming with a focus on the fields of hot and arid climates, sustainable cities, and sustainable energy, as well as the potential of QF’s Education City as a testbed for sustainable technologies and practices.

Earthna is focused on developing tools, solutions, and policies to improve people’s lives within a thriving natural environment. Working together with our community to co-create and design solutions that utilize our resources and understand our local culture and needs, we deliver a message of hope and impactful action that will strengthen our legacy.

For more information on Earthna please visit: www.earthna.qa

For any media inquiries, please contact: Sarah Abdussalam, sarah.abdussalam@teneo.com,

Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is a non-profit organization that supports Qatar on its journey to becoming a diversified and sustainable economy. QF strives to serve the people of Qatar and beyond by providing specialized programs across its innovation-focused ecosystem of education, research and development, and community development.

QF was founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Amir, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who shared the vision to provide Qatar with quality education. Today, QF’s world-class education system offers lifelong learning opportunities to community members as young as six months through to doctoral level, enabling graduates to thrive in a global environment and contribute to the nation’s development.

QF is also creating a multidisciplinary innovation hub in Qatar, where homegrown researchers are working to address local and global challenges. By promoting a culture of lifelong learning and fostering social engagement through programs that embody Qatari culture, QF is committed to empowering the local community and contributing to a better world for all.

For a complete list of QF’s initiatives and projects, please visit: www.qf.org.qa 

To stay up to date on our social media activities, follow our accounts on: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

For any media inquiries, please contact: pressoffice@qf.org.qa