Expert: glass buildings not suitable for Qatar

Qatar is the world's worst carbon emitter per capita, according to the UN

An expert has warned that Qatar needs to stop building glass buildings, according to a local newspaper.

The large number of glass buildings in Qatar absorb heat and spread it to their surroundings, said coastal and environmental geomorphologist Andrea Richmond in Gulf Times.

“Buildings here are highly insulated and so it takes much more energy to cool them down, meaning air conditioners have to work harder and longer, producing more carbon dioxide,” she said.

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Richmond said that developers misunderstood green requirements, with the average investor believing a ‘green’ building will cost 30-40% more. She suggested the real increase was nearer 2-5%.

Last February, a UN report accused Qatar of being the worst carbon polluter in the world, emitting more than twice as many tonnes of carbon per capita as the United States.