Environment Minister to QNA: Achieving Sustainable Future Requires Balance between Environmental, Economic, Human Development
Doha, February 25 (QNA) - HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al-Thani underlined on Saturday the need to achieve a balance between environmental, economic, social, and human development to ensure a sustainable future for the State of Qatar.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the sidelines of celebrating Qatar Environment Day 2023 on Al Aaliya Island under the slogan "Our Earth Our Legacy," HE the Minister said that the celebration of Qatar Environment Day confirms the ministry's vision and strategy to protect the local environment and achieving sustainable development, especially as the local environment is part of the historical heritage of the State of Qatar, and is a major component of the culture of the Qatari people.
His Excellency explained that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change participates in the Qatar Environment Day 2023 under the slogan "Our Earth Our Legacy," through many activities, including releasing sea turtles and young fish, cleaning Al Aaliya Island, cleaning the seabed, planting mangrove seedlings, and setting up nests for birds on Al Aaliya Island, which is characterized by its nature and biodiversity.
He pointed out that Qatar has achieved leadership in the field of sustainable development and preservation of the national environment, through many achievements and initiatives that have made it at the forefront of countries that strive to preserve the environment in all its forms and abide by its international commitments in this field.
He pointed out that Qatar has made great strides in reducing carbon emissions in all sectors of the country, relying on environmentally friendly alternatives, and issuing legislation on preserving the national environment and encourages the private sector to find a balanced relationship between "development needs" and "environmental protection", in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.
His Excellency noted that Qatar has succeeded in hosting the first eco-friendly FIFA World Cup edition by building 40 percent of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums with recyclable materials and relying on solar energy to operate sports stadiums, noting that all means of transportation were powered by electricity. He pointed out that the ministry had deployed a large number of air quality units around the championship stadiums.
Regarding the achievements of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in 2022, HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change pointed out that the ministry has established a national network for the continuous monitoring system for the quality of coastal and marine waters of the country, by measuring marine and environmental physical variables and factors, in addition to providing data to the concerned authorities, and giving early warning in a case of deterioration.
He pointed out that the ministry launched the Environmental Data Monitoring and Analysis Unit, which aims to improve the monitoring of ambient air quality data in the State of Qatar, which will help maintain the air quality in accordance with the highest standards through an initiative to prepare and implement an integrated national plan for air quality management.
He explained the initiative to develop a national plan through continuous monitoring and measurement of the concentration of pollutants in the ambient air and identify the causes and sources of these pollutants to address the problem and improve air quality.
He added that the ministry has an integrated system for monitoring ambient air quality, including 40 stations fixed and mobile stations to monitor air quality throughout the State of Qatar.
His Excellency praised the project to develop the biodiversity database of the State of Qatar, which seeks to issue a list of plant and animal species registered in the country, to be an approved reference that supports stakeholders working in this field, as well as for officials in the decision-making process in the environmental protection field, stressing that the project has a regional and international important dimension for its role in modernizing the elements of biodiversity in the State of Qatar, and contributing to the rooting and documentation of local flora and fauna.
HE the Minister explained that the National Action Plan for Climate Change, launched by the ministry during the last period, identified about 35 initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors by 25 percent by 2030, adding these initiatives included clear and specific implementation plans to reach the highest levels of investment in low-carbon technologies, such as the use of solar energy, carbon sequestration, and reliance on electric energy.
Concerning raising citizen and civil society awareness of the importance of preserving the Qatari environment, His Excellency noted that at the top of those achievements made by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is raising citizen and society's awareness of preserving the Qatari environment, especially that the absence of environmental culture among society members leads to a deterioration of the environment, disruption of the food chain and high levels of pollution, which witnessed a noticeable decrease in the last period due to the awareness of the citizens of the need to adopt a civilized behavior and understand the impact of that on the homeland and their safety.
In his statement to QNA, HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al-Thani called all societal groups to participate in Qatar Environment Day, especially since the environment is a true legacy that will remain with everyone.
He stressed that the ministry would continue its endeavors during 2023 to carry out its duties and play its role in preserving the Qatari environment and achieving sustainable development in cooperation with all state agencies and ministries, inspired by the vision of the wise leadership and its lofty directions, to achieve comprehensive development in the State of Qatar and preserve the national environment bearing in mind the supreme interests of the state to achieve the safety and health of the citizen.
At the international level, His Excellency referred to Qatar's distinguished participation in the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27), which was hosted by the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh, where the ministry inaugurated its environmental sustainability program under the slogan "Our Sustainable Environment," which encourages the inclusion of efforts and initiatives concerning the various dimensions of environmental sustainability in the State of Qatar, within a digital platform, which highlights the achievements of the State of Qatar and its commitment to supporting international efforts to achieve climate and environmental sustainability.
Concluding his statement to QNA, HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change said Al Aaliya Island, which hosted the Qatar Environment Day 2023 activities, is an uninhabited island and most of the litter that was found on it was by sea currents, pointing to the launching of a campaign to clean the beaches and seabed, plant mangrove seedlings, and set up nests for birds to preserve the environmental diversity.
In turn, Assistant Undersecretary for Protection and Natural Reserves Affairs at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) Dr. Ibrahim Abdullatif Al Maslamani indicated in an exclusive statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), that the ministry holds an array of environmental activities on the occasion of the Qatar Environment Day, in partnership with many government agencies interested in environmental affairs, stressing that MoECC's environmental protection efforts run all year around, striving for environmental sustainability, and keeping the environment clean and pollution-free.
Dr. Al Maslamani said that this year's theme stresses the citizen’s connection and belonging to their local environment, where the marine environment represents the ancestral workplace and the desert being the birthplace of the Qatari tribes.
The Assistant Undersecretary for Protection and Natural Reserves Affairs at MoECC explained that MoECC has accomplished many achievements in the last period, such as expanding, establishing, and preserving natural reserves, commissioning numerous research projects, in addition to expanding eco-tourism such as the case with Dahl Al Misfir, which was inaugurated recently, noting that work is underway to prepare other eco-tourism areas such as Khor Al Adaid, to be announced soon.
Concluding his statement to QNA, Al Maslamani added that educating the community about the importance of environmental protection, pointing out that there are specialized units in MoECC working on raising public awareness on the matter.
For his part, Assistant Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs Abdulhadi Al Marri said that the Qatar Environment Day is a good occasion to emphasize the importance of preserving the local environment, which is the legacy of the forefathers of Qatar, praising the ministry's efforts in protecting the local environment and its natural diversity of plants and animals, as well as preventing all marine and land pollution. Additionally, Al Marri indicated that the Ministry has set air quality monitoring stations to monitor air purity in the State of Qatar, two of which are mobile whilst three are fixed, which are linked to the operating room in the Ministry building.
For his part, environmental expert and engineering consultant at MoECC Dr. Mohammad Saif Al Kuwari noted in an exclusive statement to QNA that MoECC celebrates Qatar Environment Day through a series of activities on Al Aaliya Island, which is characterized by its beautiful green color and fresh air, expressing his hope that Al Aaliya Island finds its way on the touristic scene due to its beauty enjoyed by citizens, residents and visitor to the State of Qatar alike.
For his part, Director of Wildlife Development Department at MoECC Mohammed Ahmed Al Khanji said that the Qatar Environment Day included many events and activities that contribute to the development of wildlife, such as the release of many large size Fuwayrit-raised turtles, which can handle the conditions of marine life.
Additionally, mangroves were planted due to their great environmental and economic importance, due to their role in developing fisheries, as well as creating artificial nests for many local birds, leading to the birds' reproduction and finding of a safe shelter for them and for their young. He added that many different types of fish were released in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipality.
In a related context, the Director of Public Relations at MoECC Farhoud Hadi Al Hajri said in a statement to QNA: that bird nests were built on Al Aaliya Island as part of the activities held today on the occasion of Qatar Environmental Day, noting that the island is characterized by biological diversity, having wild animals and aquatic life, mangroves, endemic and migratory birds, with the latter taking the island as a transit station.
HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change toured Al Aaliya Island today, which is one of the the State of Qatar's natural reserves rich in biodiversity and mangroves, where 150 mangroves were planted and 80 baby hawksbill turtles-threatened with extinction-were released into the sea. Additionally, participants helped build artificial nests for ospreys in several locations on the island.
An extensive cleaning campaign of the island's coasts were conducted part of today's activities, in cooperation with some volunteers from the PADI Diving Resorts, where specialists from the Ministry briefed participants on the State of Qatar's efforts in protecting the endangered hawksbill turtles, and efforts to protect them by releasing a number of their young into the sea annually.
Information was also provided on local fish, and on the state's efforts to protect and enhance fish stocks.
The aforementioned activities were held in cooperation with several partners, namely: the Ministry of Municipality, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar, and the Barzan Youth Center.
The activities were also attended by all assistant undersecretaries, directors of departments and those concerned with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, as well as representatives from the participating agencies. (QNA)
