Environment Minister Stresses Importance of Concerted Efforts to Conserve Environment Amid Unprecedented Global Challenges

Doha, October 09 (QNA) - HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al-Thani stressed Sunday the importance of concerting the efforts to protect the environment in the midst of the unprecedented challenges facing the world, affirming the State of Qatar's keenness to achieve the sustainable development and conserve the environment. In his remark marking the launch of Qatar Sustainability Week 2022, His Excellency pointed out that Qatar National Vision 2030 overtly determines the significance of conserving the environment and natural resources by incorporating environmental sustainability as one of the four pillars to achieve sustainable development, noting that the State of Qatar set significant ambitions through which it seeks to achieve harmonization between the economic growth, social development and environment preservation. He clarified that the State of Qatar, which is one of the first countries that ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1996, has constantly demonstrated its consolidated commitment to overcome the global environmental challenges over the past twenty five years, and this commitment was reflected at the local level in various set of measures, including the creation of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) in 2021 for a specific purpose that entails the preservation of the country's environment, conservation of its resources and reduction of the emissions that cause climate change, pointing out that MOECC has also launched two important guiding documents in the same year, including Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy (QNE) that was developed with the vision to protect and enhance Qatar's environment to safeguard the well-being of Qatar's population and ensure the long-term resilience of the economy and Qatar National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) that determines the methods through which the State of Qatar would reduce greenhouse gas emissions on annual basis, for the sake of the steadfast transition to a low -carbon economy, the State of Qatar also pledged to host a carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 by observing the international standards in the area of conserving the environment through adopting high-level of sustainability for the stadiums. HE Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al-Thani said that all entities in the state should work together to achieve the local ambitions in the area of sustainable development, adding that public and private sectors, including non-profit organizations, educational institutions and all community individuals should plan and constantly work collectively by focusing on the conservation of Qatar's environment and make the country as a secure and healthy place for living, in addition to working for the current and future generations. His Excellency said that Qatar Sustainability Week, which is considered one of the major societal initiatives of its kind in the region, is primarily highlighted through the practical obligation of the State of Qatar to work collectively, especially since it combines over 30 companies and enterprises in one place as partners, emphasizing that over 200 companies and enterprises will converge over the week to demonstrate their dedication to supporting the sustainability efforts in the State of Qatar, pointing out that Qatar Sustainability Week this year will focus on the efficient utilization of water, energy and food, reduction of waste, enhance recycling and the preplanned activities, initiatives and events within the framework of these themes which are manifestly and concretely connected to the goals the State is striving to achieve. His Excellency concluded his statement by saying that joint collective work promotes national ambitions, emphasizing that the State of Qatar will steadfastly seek to achieve environmental excellence, stressing the significance of collective cooperation among the companies, civil society, schools, universities and individuals via all community segments, which is pivotal to further achieve the sustainability goals in the State of Qatar, calling on all companies and enterprises in the State of Qatar, including the citizens and residents to synergize their efforts, not only through the participation in this occasion but through joint responsibility and active role for the sake of active sustainable development for posterity. For his part, Executive Director of Earthna Gonzalo Castro de la Mata clarified that Qatar Sustainability Week this year comes under the umbrella of Earthna Center, a QF member that was established this year, pointing out that the center aims to highlight the activities of both public and private sectors in the area of sustainability. It also offers the opportunity for various entities and authorities in the sustainability sector to provide their initiatives and highlight their practical and innovative solutions in this field, which vary between awareness campaigns and awareness events across the State of Qatar. He clarified that Qatar Sustainability Week, this year, will see the participation of over 200 government entities and will offer over 400 events that vary between awareness campaigns, exhibitions, conferences, sports and physical activities, health events, artistic exhibitions, recreational competitions, innovative initiatives, school and family activities and field trips, emphasizing that sustainability cannot be achieved without cooperation among people, companies and organizations from all community spectrums and work together in pursuit of achieving the promised change, he added. Qatar Sustainability Week 2022 is set to be held during the period from Oct. 8-15, 2022, with the participation of over 200 public and private entities from various regions across the State of Qatar and will offer over 400 events, which is a perfect opportunity for the entities and authorities interested in sustainability sector in the State of Qatar to provide their initiatives and highlight their practical and innovative solutions in the area of sustainability. It will also contribute to providing a platform that encourages all sectors and individuals to contribute to achieving Qatar's vision for sustainability, consolidating the sustainability culture and spreading it among all community categories. (QNA)