The inaugural Earthna summit on March 8-9, will focus on a new sustainability framework that suits the needs of specific areas, said Dr Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, executive director of Earthna Centre for a Sustainable Future, a member of Qatar Foundation (QF).
“Vastly diverse ecosystems mean the journey towards a sustainable future should and will look different for different countries – one that should be shaped by questions that fully consider the unique challenges in each country or region and tailor solutions accordingly,” he explained.
The summit, titled, ‘Building New Sustainability Pathways for Hot and Arid Environments,’ will take place in Msheireb Downtown Doha, in collaboration with Qatar’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
“We can’t import practices, solutions, or even policies from countries that are very different from us in terms of their ecology. Instead, we have to reframe the questions and discussions so we can come up with local solutions to create a sustainability framework that works for us.
"And that is precisely what the upcoming Earthna summit will focus on,” Dr Castro de la Mata said.
The four main streams will focus on creating new sustainability frameworks for hot and arid environments; food security, adaptation and resilience; climate and energy; and biodiversity, ecosystems and indigenous knowledge.
A unique aspect of the summit will be its emphasis on weaving indigenous knowledge into all its streams, as it provides a platform for experts and policymakers in sustainability to learn from and exchange knowledge with those who know their countries best – their indigenous peoples.
The summit aims to bring renewed focus to examining ancestral practices, and how they can potentially support plans for advancing sustainability in the world of today – reflecting the fact that hot and arid climates have been part of the fabric of our planet for centuries, and so the past holds knowledge that can serve the present and future.
By creating communication and collaboration opportunities between the traditional knowledge that has been collected over hundreds of years through direct contact with the environment, lived experiences and extensive observations – scientists, researchers, and technology developers, the summit will aim to facilitate the creation of new knowledge that could not be created through the efforts of either group alone, and contribute to the creation of new and important pathways for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Six sessions at the upcoming Earthna Summit will be open to the public.
The summit will host the “Earthna Village” at Barahat Msheireb that is also open to the public, showcasing an exhibition of indigenous, sustainable practices that span cultural, environmental, and social sustainability.
Additionally, the exhibition's agora section will host practitioners to hold short, interactive discussions with the audience about their exhibits.
Dr Gonzalo Castro de la Mata.
