Qatar has reiterated its commitment to action based on the principle of co-operation and partnership, pointing out that the efforts of the international community will have a positive effect in overcoming the challenges facing the international community and moving forward in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This came in a statement delivered by the Second Secretary at the Permanent Delegation of Qatar to the United Nations Ahmed bin Saif al-Kuwari in front of the general discussion of the UN Economic and Financial Committee of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Al-Kuwari said that a number of reports under the work of the commission have shown that climate change remains a critical threat of our time, which calls for concerted multilateral action to address risks associated with the phenomenon.
He noted that the global nature of climate change and the need of effective international co-operation and response. Emanating from the Qatar’s belief that there is a role for all parties to address this phenomenon, which constitutes an obstacle to the advancement of social and economic development and the achievement of the goals of sustainable development, the country has played a leading role in the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit last month, as His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani along with France and Jamaica, led the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition, he said.
He added that the Amir announced during the summit Qatar’s contribution of US$100mn to support small developing island states and the least developed countries to deal with climate change, especially as these countries bear the brunt of the impact of climate change.
He pointed out that this contribution reflects the importance and seriousness attached by the government of Qatar to take the necessary measures to activate what has been agreed internationally in the field of climate change, and that Qatar will continue to work with the international community to translate the obligation of its ratification of the Paris Agreement.
Al-Kuwari pointed out that international trade plays an important role and constitutes an enabling tool to stimulate economic growth, create an enabling economic environment and establish an open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system to be an integral part of this environment, stressing the importance of the conclusions mentioned in the report of the Secretary-General on international trade and development, which highlighted the importance of strategies to promote trade, take into account social, economic and development concerns such as poverty reduction, job creation and environmental sustainability.
Successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires special attention to least developed and conflict-affected countries, and to ensuring equal opportunities for all segments of society, especially women, children, youth and persons with special needs along providing them with the necessary knowledge and skills in close alignment within Vision 2030 plan, he stated.
Al-Kuwari also stressed the importance of inclusive and equitable quality education, which is one of the important and enabling tools for achieving progress in all SDGs.
He said that comprehensive and sustainable development is an important focus to which Qatar attaches high priority, The Qatar National Vision 2030 sets an objective framework for achieving sustainable development and focuses on major issues including the paramount importance of sustainable development and its mainstreaming so that regularity is achieved between economic growth, social and human development and environmental protection.
He stated that as part of Qatar’s efforts to build an efficient and effective system to monitor and follow up the implementation of the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the State has aligned the goals and objectives of this agenda with the objectives of the Second National Development Strategy 2018-2022 and has developed a monitoring and follow-up system.
As part of its efforts to fulfil its commitments to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Qatar presented at the sessions of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development voluntary national reviews that gave a clear idea of the progress made by the State in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals discussed, al-Kuwari noted.
Qatar is among the first countries that provided development and relief assistance, for example, in 2018 Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) financed projects in the sectors of education, health, economic empowerment and job creation in more than 70 countries around the world, at a cost of US$585mn, he added.
As part of the strategic partnership between Qatar and the United Nations, al-Kuwari pointed out that during the Doha Forum 2018, Qatar announced a multi-year support for UN’s core resources amounting to US$500mn, that will benefit the enhanced implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
As part of this support, a multi-year contribution of US$20 million has been allocated to support the Qatari labs network to accelerate the UNDP Sustainable Development Goals.
Al-Kuwari stressed that Qatar ranked first in the Arab world and 11th globally, as one of the largest contributors to the UN inter-agency pooled funds in 2017, stressing continued support and financing of development activities.
The Second Secretary at the Permanent Delegation of Qatar to the UN concluded by saying that Qatar will host the fifth UN Least Developed Countries Conference in Doha in 2021, stressing that this hosting comes out of Qatar’s keenness to work with partners in the international community to achieve common goals, and its belief in the need to pay greater attention to respond to the needs and priorities of the least developed countries, and achieve comprehensive and sustainable development.

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