QSA Develops a System of Environmental Statistics

Doha, September 22 (QNA) - Qatar Statistics Authority (QSA) is currently working on developing the environmental statistics for the State of Qatar and on creating an advanced environmental database to keep pace with development witnessed by all fields in the country. QSA seeks to enter the official environmental data in the National Statistical System using international standards and to release and distribute them periodically, to meet the needs of National Development Strategy 2011/2016 as well as international bodies concerned with environmental information. As part of these endeavors, QSA organizes, over the next three days, a training workshop on the concepts and frameworks of environmental statistics, to lay the foundation for official environmental statistics, with the participation of representatives of a number of key stakeholders in environmental issues including government agencies, business and research centers. The workshop, which kicks off on Sunday, at Hilton Doha, will address the importance of environmental statistics in supporting development strategies to achieve the Qatar National Vision 2030, particularly with regard to environmental development, which is one of the four pillars of the vision. It will also address the various challenges which the government agencies are facing in the provision of statistics and framing environmental requirements to ensure sustainable growth in Qatar. QSA hopes such a workshop would come out with a mechanism that facilitates the integration of environmental information across different government bodies, and improves the quality of data in order to develop a database that serves the decision-making. Environmental data is expected to be published officially starting the second quarter of 2013. (QNA)