The Shura Council held its ordinary weekly meeting at Tamim bin Hamad Hall Monday under the chairmanship of HE the Speaker Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanim.
In the presence of HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali al-Thani, the Council discussed issues related to environment, plans and strategies for conserving the environment, along with the most prominent challenges and projects in this field.
At the outset of the session, HE al-Ghanim praised the efforts being exerted by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) to implement the National Environment and Climate Change Strategy (QNE), pointing, in this context, to the close connection between the Qatari people and their environment since ancient times, and their keenness to never damage it, something which is rooted in their behaviours and habits they inherited from their ancestors.
He asserted that the ancestors had consolidated sustainability concepts and environment conservation through their coexistence with terrestrial and marine environments.
HE al-Ghanim said that the ancestors instinctively realised that they are an extension of that environment, and their survival is linked to its sustainability.
Therefore, he said, respect for the environment stems from Qatar's culture, heritage, and reality, and is rooted in the countrys behaviour.
HE Sheikh Dr Faleh delivered a presentation that addressed a myriad of environmental issues, including the most prominent challenges facing this sector and the exerted efforts made to counter them, and reviewing the QNE's strategy as a core pillar for public policies to preserve environment for the current and future generations.
The minister affirmed that Qatar – thanks to the vision of its wise leadership and with the efforts of the people of Qatar and its scientists and institutions – has become a model in achieving integrated development, preserving the environment and reducing the influence of carbon emissions on climate change,.
HE Sheikh Dr Faleh stated that the MoECC is currently working on developing the climate change and environmental sustainability plan within its third National Development Strategy 2023-2030, which includes five areas of work, 29 strategic goals and 89 initiatives that encompass 99 strategic projects, in addition to laying out and implementing the National Climate Change Action Plan which identified 300 actions to reduce the actual or anticipated effects of climate change.
The minister pointed out that the ministry has achieved a number of projects and initiatives in three areas – the environment affairs sector, protection and natural reserves affairs sector and climate change affairs sector – underscoring the MoECC's keenness to have the overall infrastructure projects and architectural and engineering constructions fulfill the country's vision in conserving the environment and reducing the pollution with its all forms.
In addition, he noted the country's keenness to achieve the United Nation's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), whether in terms of infrastructure, or building and establishing numerous eco-friendly smart cities and green buildings, other than dependence on technology to overcome all challenges that faced that process.
During the presentation, he addressed the efforts in safeguarding biodiversity in the State and emphasised the MoECC's keenness to propagate the culture of environment conservation through engaging the community.
Responding to comments and questions raised by members of the Shura Council, HE Sheikh Dr Faleh underlined the country's capability to handle various emergencies, such as radioactive contamination via an early warning network to be rigorously modernized, followed by pre-emption through special courses to handle these cases.
He outlined the steps that the MoECC is taking to overcome all problems raised by the Shura Council, and stressed that the ministry is interested in all comments, proposals and envisions laid out in the council.
The Shura Council members lauded the MoECC's role, along with its efforts to conserve the environment, and emphasised the council's keenness to support these efforts.
The interventions made by the members were primarily focused on protecting the environment against encroachment, conserving and strengthening vegetation, and achieving ecological balance to protect wildlife with the essential utilisation of the country's natural reserves for the service of eco-tourism and highlighting Qatari heritage, traditions, and customs through it.
The members also raised many questions focused on air quality in the State and the percentage of pollutants in the air, whether they are industrial, or natural, along with the MoECC's efforts to improve air quality.
They also tackled the importance of improving the productivity of agricultural land and interest in groundwater.