HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali al-Thani underlined Saturday the need to achieve a balance between environmental, economic, social, and human development to ensure a sustainable future for Qatar. Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the sidelines of celebrating Qatar Environment Day 2023 on Al Aaliya Island under the slogan 'Our Earth Our Legacy', HE the Minister said that the celebration confirms the ministry's vision and strategy to protect the local environment and achieving sustainable development, especially as the local environment is part of the historical heritage of Qatar, and is a major component of the culture of the Qatari people.
He explained that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change marks the Environment Day through many activities, including releasing sea turtles and young fish, cleaning Al Aaliya Island, cleaning the seabed, planting mangrove seedlings, and setting up nests for birds on the island, which is characterised by its nature and biodiversity. He pointed out that Qatar has achieved leadership in sustainable development and preservation of the national environment, through many achievements and initiatives that have made it at the forefront of countries that strive to preserve the environment in all its forms and abide by its international commitments in this field.
He pointed out that Qatar has made great strides in reducing carbon emissions in all sectors of the country, relying on environmentally-friendly alternatives and issuing legislation on preserving the national environment and encourages the private sector to find a balanced relationship between "development needs" and "environmental protection", in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.
He noted that Qatar has succeeded in hosting the first eco-friendly FIFA World Cup edition by building 40% of the stadiums with recyclable materials and relying on solar energy to operate them, noting that all means of transportation were powered by electricity. He pointed out that the ministry had deployed a large number of air quality units around the championship stadiums.
Regarding the ministry's achievements in 2022, HE the Minister pointed out that it has established a national network for the continuous monitoring system for the quality of coastal and marine waters of the country, by measuring marine and environmental physical variables and factors, in addition to providing data to the concerned authorities, and giving early warning in a case of deterioration.
He pointed out that the ministry launched the Environmental Data Monitoring and Analysis Unit, which aims to improve the monitoring of ambient air quality data in Qatar, which will help maintain the air quality in accordance with the highest standards through an initiative to prepare and implement an integrated national plan for air quality management.
He explained the initiative to develop a national plan through continuous monitoring and measurement of the concentration of pollutants in the ambient air and identify the causes and sources of these pollutants to address the problem and improve air quality. He added that the ministry has an integrated system for monitoring ambient air quality, including 40 stations fixed and mobile stations to monitor air quality throughout Qatar.
He praised the project to develop the biodiversity database of Qatar, which seeks to issue a list of plant and animal species registered in the country, to be an approved reference that supports stakeholders working in this field, as well as for officials in the decision-making process in the environmental protection field, stressing that the project has a regional and international important dimension for its role in modernizing the elements of biodiversity in Qatar, and contributing to the rooting and documentation of local flora and fauna.
HE the Minister explained that the National Action Plan for Climate Change, launched by the ministry during the last period, identified about 35 initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors by 25% by 2030, adding these initiatives included clear and specific implementation plans to reach the highest levels of investment in low-carbon technologies, such as the use of solar energy, carbon sequestration, and reliance on electric energy.
Concerning raising citizen and civil society awareness of the importance of preserving the Qatari environment, he noted that at the top of those achievements is raising citizen and society's awareness of preserving the Qatari environment, especially that the absence of environmental culture among society members leads to a deterioration of the environment, disruption of the food chain and high levels of pollution, which witnessed a noticeable decrease in the last period due to the awareness of the citizens of the need to adopt a civilised behaviour and understand the impact of that on the homeland and their safety.
HE Sheikh Dr Faleh called on all societal groups to participate in Qatar Environment Day, especially since the environment is a true legacy that will remain with everyone. He stressed that the ministry would continue its endeavours during 2023 to carry out its duties and play its role in preserving the Qatari environment and achieving sustainable development in co-operation with all state agencies and ministries, inspired by the vision of the wise leadership and its lofty directions, to achieve comprehensive development in Qatar and preserve the national environment bearing in mind the supreme interests of the state to achieve the safety and health of the citizen.
At the international level, he referred to Qatar's participation in the 27th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27), which was hosted by the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh, where the ministry launched its environmental sustainability programme under the slogan "Our Sustainable Environment," which encourages the inclusion of efforts and initiatives concerning the various dimensions of environmental sustainability in Qatar, within a digital platform, which highlights the country's achievements and its commitment to supporting international efforts to achieve climate and environmental sustainability.
HE the Minister said Al Aaliya Island is uninhabited and most of the litter found there was due to sea currents, pointing to the launching of a campaign to clean the beaches and seabed, plant mangrove seedlings, and set up nests for birds to preserve the environmental diversity.