Qatar has set an ambitious target to develop the highest number of ‘green or carbon-neutral’ buildings across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region by 2030, said a report.

The move comes in line with the country's strategic plan to reduce its carbon footprint and achieving sustainable development, reported the Peninsula, citing a senior official of Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC).

Currently, there are 220 Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-registered projects in Qatar and many more are in the process of registration, revealed Meshal Al Shamari, the director of QGBC on the sidelines of the eighth edition of global Hotelier Summit (Middle East) in Doha.

"The number is increasing at a very promising rate. We have many such buildings being developed under QF (Qatar Foundation). Msheireb Properties alone has more than 100 buildings. Then the entire Lusail smart city, which will be home to over 300,000 people, to be GSAS (Global sustainability assessment system) certified," he said.

"If we include the GSAS-certified buildings, the number would double,” he added.

Al Shamari pointed out that the green building specifications have now been adopted by many organisations in Qatar as a mandatory requirement.

Some of the big organisations which have made these requirements mandatory for their projects include Ashghal (Public Works Authority), municipality projects and Qatar Foundation projects. He said that the challenge is now with the private sector, but the upcoming regulatory framework is expected to make it mandatory even for the private buildings, he stated.

Al Shamari highlighted that 10 years ago the development of green buildings used to be relatively more expensive, but now most of the materials used in buildings are being replaced by green and environment-friendly substitutes.

“The efforts towards sustainable development and green building is accelerating at the highest pace compared to other countries in the region. Within less than 10 years, today we have the second highest number of green buildings in the Mena region after the UAE,” he added.