The Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy (QNE), launched by HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani last Thursday has marked a key milestone in the country’s mission to protect and enhance its environment in order to safeguard the well-being of the population and ensure the long-term resilience of the economy. The QNE is an effort that builds upon Qatar National Vision 2030, which features four key pillars to create harmony between economic growth, social development and environmental protection. As pointed out by HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali al-Thani at the launch event, the QNE comes within days after the issuance of Amiri Decision No. 57 of 2021 appointing the duties of ministries, which includes article 8 on the duty of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of reducing emissions causing climate change. This objective is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. 
Qatar has lined up a number of projects and initiatives that contribute to lower carbon dioxide emissions, and rely on renewable energy sources. The country’s focus on the issue is evident from the fact that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani had pledged, during the Climate Action Summit, $100mn to support small island developing states and least developed countries to address climate change and environmental challenges. It should be remembered that Qatar was one of the first countries to join the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1996, the Kyoto Protocol in 2005 and the Paris Agreement in 2016. 
Qatar is a member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future. The country also hosted the 18th Conference of the Parties (COP18) in 2012, one of the global climate change negotiation landmarks that contributed to reaching the Paris Agreement. The initiative launched in 2019 to plant a million trees, is progressing fast and is set to be concluded before the World Cup 2022. The QNE seeks to achieve three goals – the well-being of the Qatari people, economic flexibility, and environmental protection. The five areas covered are greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, biodiversity, water, circular economy, waste management, and land use. 
Among the key goals are reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030, the establishment of 30 air quality monitoring stations by 2023, and the increase in the number of biodiversity reserves. Qatar will adopt low-carbon technologies and solutions based on natural materials. The effective implementation of the QNE is going to be a model for other countries to follow. The QNE and the National Climate Change Action Plan 2030 contribute to achieving a balance between the urgent need to work in the field of climate change and environmental protection, while promoting sustainable social and economic development in an economy based mainly on the export of liquefied natural gas and related products.
By signing the Paris Climate Agreement Qatar pledged to commit to reducing global temperatures by much less than 2C, and to strive to limit global warming to no more than 1.5C. Qatar is currently implementing a new monitoring, reporting and verification system that provides decision-makers with the right information at the right time, enabling informed decisions on a range of issues related to climate and the environment.