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Earthna Centre for a Sustainable Future (Earthna), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has launched a new report, 'Industrial Policies for Economic Diversification in Qatar: A Research and Policy Agenda', to support Qatar’s economic diversification ambitions through an industrial policy. Published in collaboration with the UN Industrial Development Organisation, the report highlights the need for a broad research programme for the design of an appropriate industrial policy in Qatar. “There has been a recent resurgence of industrial policy as a tool for development planning. And we believe, it has great potential to support Qatar’s development ambitions and environmental commitments, “ Dr Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, executive director of Earthna, told Gulf Times.  Dr de la Mata said designing an appropriate industrial policy requires a strong evidence base and further research to understand the local context and achieve diversification and structural transformation. “We published this report, in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, to encourage discussions on industrial policy and suggest a research and policy agenda to support the government’s policymaking process. The report presents a comprehensive framework on potential avenues to help advance the country’s economic diversification, aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030 and other key national policies," explained, Dr de la Mata. The report notes that inquiry is needed into productivity, skill requirements, and labour migration patterns to support future needs, suggesting that research should also explore integrating green and blue economy principles and identifying specific policy packages and governance reforms relevant for long-term impact in Qatar. Another proposal in the report is to align industrial policies to existing national strategic frameworks and embed them in future strategies. “Industrial policies must align with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy. This alignment supports the transformation into a knowledge-based, competitive, and sustainable growth model,” the report explained. According to Dr de la Mata, policies should be embedded in future strategies, while ensuring coherence, green structural transformation, and incorporation of climate-conscious sustainable development principles. The report also calls for target investments and capacity building into new innovation-led sectors, such as climate technology to enable necessary diversification and innovation-driven upgrading. It points to Qatar’s commitment to emission reduction positions, low-carbon industries and clean technologies as key enablers as well as developing a hydrogen production base and expanding carbon capture and storage infrastructure. “Qatar’s Nationally Determined Commitment (NDC) to a 25% reduction in emissions by 2030 positions low-carbon industries, clean technologies, and blue economy solutions as key enablers of its diversification goals,” he highlighted. Another focus in the report is to strategically support export-focused sectors that align with the needs of growing economies across the Global South. Industrial policies should strategically support selective, export-oriented cluster development to leverage Qatar’s strengths in logistics and global connectivity. This focus aligns with the needs of growing economies across the Global South, where Qatar is an active investor in development finance. This includes pursuing strategic manufacturing growth, particularly in sectors like pharmaceuticals, in regions across Africa and Asia. The report highlights that Qatar is in a unique position to invest in capabilities that can trigger rapid change and a new industrial policy can enable Qatar to transition toward a more diversified, competitive, and climate-compatible sustainable economy. Designing industrial policy around the expectation of future global decarbonisation is crucial for local industry competitiveness. According to the report, the path forward for Qatar involves embedding industrial policy within the Third National Development Strategy framework of the country, focusing on selective, export-oriented cluster development that leverages Qatar's strengths in logistics and global connectivity. “Critical areas for exploration include developing a hydrogen production base and expanding Carbon Capture and Storage infrastructure to decarbonise manufacturing, positioning Qatar as a potential global leader in low-carbon product exports,” the report emphasises. 

The Earthna Centre for Sustainable Future (Earthna), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has come out with a publication aiming to restore respect for nature and ethical values. Semiotics of Nature: Recharging Nature with Meaning for Environmental Ethics and Action by Dr Recep Senturk, the dean of the Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)’s College of Islamic Studies, was launched during a ceremony Monday at the ThinkBay auditorium of the QF’s Education City. “What we are trying to do is to reintroduce an approach to sustainability based on ethics, values and religion,” said Earthna executive director Dr Gonzalo Castro de la Mata. “Most modern attempts to support sustainability are based on cost-benefit analysis and views based on pure economics.” The book launch was attended by officials from Earthna, the HBKU and other organisations. “We believe that it is important to restore the respect for nature, which is again based on values, ethics and religion,” said Dr de la Mata. “That is why we are launching this book.” “We have been working on this book for almost two years,” he continued. “We actually had a workshop with Islamic scholars from all over the world who were able to provide some inputs to the book.” According to Dr Senturk, there are many people who talk about sustainability and environmental ethics but are not very effective in the true spirit. “To make environmentalism and environmental ethics more effective, we need to mobilise religion and traditional values to motivate people to respect nature,” he said. “So this inner transformation requires mobilising religion, spirituality and values.” Dr Senturk pointed out that the world existed for millions of years and there was no environmental problem until the 20th century. “The environmental issues started because of the rise of materialist ideology or the capitalist ideology, which sees nature only as a source of raw materials and tries to exploit it without any limits, without any constraints or without any moral values,” he stated. The official said that the world has to go back to the primordial, original values of all traditions, religions and philosophies and implement them. “I believe that the ethical, religious and spiritual approach to environment and nature will be far more effective compared to materialist approaches,” he said. Dr Senturk was quick to note that the semiotics of nature is based on a multiplex, multi-layered perspective. “I am not rejecting the scientific or technological approach, but I want scientific study, technological production, and consumption to be guided by ethical values,” he clarified. “So, there should be a hierarchy,” Dr Senturk emphasised. “Ethical values should be at the top, not economic interest and maximisation of profit.” A panel discussion was also staged to highlight the ethical practices and considerations needed in the current era. Aside from Dr Senturk, the other panelists were the HBKU Research Centre for Islamic Legislation and Ethics’s associate professor of Methodology and Ethics Dr Mutaz al-Khatib, and Dr Osman Umarji, the director of Global Data Studies at the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and senior consultant to the QF. 

The Indian Business and Professionals Council (IBPC) has announced its partnership with the Earthna Centre for a Sustainable Future for ‘Qatar Sustainability Week’ (QSW) 2025, taking place from November 1-8. Now in its 10th year, QSW is led by Earthna, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Qatar Foundation. The event will see the participation of Qatar’s community, NGOs, and the private sector in advancing sustainability-focused initiatives and practices. As part of QSW 2025, the IBPC Qatar Sustainability Forum will organise a series of activities designed to promote awareness, collaboration, and innovation in sustainable development across the business and education sectors. IBPC president Thaha Muhammed stated: “As the Indian community, we reaffirm our commitment to adopting sustainable practices within the corporate and business sectors while inspiring the wider community, including school students, to take meaningful action.”

Qatar Sustainability Week (QSW) 2025, the country’s largest community-focused initiative, will return for the 10th time, led by Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.Scheduled to take place from Nov 1-8, QSW 2025 aims to encourage Qatar’s community, government, NGOs, and private sector entities to take part in various sustainability-focused activities, events, and projects.Executive Director of Earthna, Dr Gonzalo Castro de la Mata expressed the significance of QSW 2025, stating: “Over the past decade, Qatar Sustainability Week has grown from an awareness campaign into a nationwide movement driving measurable change. The movement has engaged more than 750,000 people across schools, businesses, cultural institutions, and civil society, strengthening QSW’s role as a keystone of the nation’s sustainability journey. We sincerely thank our long-term partners for their support, in particular the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.”For his part, Assistant Undersecretary for Climate Change Affairs, Engineer Ahmed Mohammed al-Sada, reaffirmed the ministry’s strong support for the initiative, which aligns with its strategic mission to foster collaboration between institutions and communities while raising public environmental awareness.These efforts, he said, are vital for protecting Qatar’s environment and achieving long-term sustainability.Al-Sada underscored the ministry’s commitment to promoting national initiatives that support Qatar’s journey towards environmental sustainability.QSW 2025 will bring together several strategic partners this year including the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa)’s Tarsheed programme, Qatar Museums, Qatar University, Mathaf, and the Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah International Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development along with others. (QNA)