Climate change has become a real challenge for global trade and economic growth, Qatar Chamber and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Qatar Chairman, HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani said, stressing the importance of addressing this phenomenon through augmenting co-operation among all concerned institutions, notably world chambers of commerce.
This came during the 5th Asia Pacific CEO Forum of the ICC which kicked off in Jakarta in partnership with Qatar Chamber.
HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani said that this forum emphasised the pressing need to combat risks of climate change which would otherwise lead to a weakened world economy and would have a staggering impact on many vital economic sectors such as agriculture, food security, tourism and transport.
“The State of Qatar has signed the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Its constitution stipulates preservation of the environment with a view of achieving the sustainable and inclusive development for all generation,” 
QC Chairman said affirming that the Qatar National Vision 2030 calls for supporting the international efforts to mitigate impacts of climate change as well as performing a regional role in alleviating its negative effects.
He also pointed out that reducing the dependence on unrenewable hydro carbonic resources is a priority for Qatar, noting the tireless efforts are being made to enhance the use of renewable energy.
A forum panel looked at ways in which the benefits of a strengthened rules-based multilateral trading system and a new long-term and effective global framework for combating climate change can be mutually reinforcing will also see the launch of a new report on climate change and trade agreements.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) report titled Climate change and trade agreements: Friends or foes was commissioned by ICC as part its World Trade Agenda initiative in partnership with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Featured speakers and panellists at this year’s forum included ICC Chair Paul Polman, ICC Secretary General John Denton who said: “The ICC CEO Forum is a unique opportunity to bring Asia Pacific leaders together for discussions on global issues shaping the future of commercial opportunities, investments and trade.” 
“ICC is equally committed to the UNFCCC, including the Paris Agreement, and to the rules-based multilateral trade system under the World trade Organisation (WTO). The nexus between international trade and climate change presents an important opportunity to deliver substantive and actionable measures for the benefit of climate change mitigation,” he added.
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