A New Ministry to Address Climate Change

'The phenomenon of climate change is undoubtedly one of the most serious challenges of our time.' The Amir, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. speaking at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019

NEW MINISTRY TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE

By Sarah Palmer

In late 2021, Qatar created a new ministry for the environment and climate change, part of a government reshuffle announced by The Amir, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. HE Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani was appointed the minister in charge of the new entity. Although this is a new ministry for Qatar, the state has over the last few years been actively involved in finding solutions for the global climate change problem. What Qatar is doing about climate change internationally Qatar signed the Kyoto Protocol in 2005, an international treaty which extended the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), an international environmental treaty to combat 'dangerous human interference with the climate system', in part by stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. Qatar is also a signatory to the 2015 Paris Agreement. The Global Drylands Alliance (GDA) is an initiative Qatar was instrumental in creating, first mooted at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP17) in 2011. The GDA is a collaboration to make food sources in dryland countries secure – dryland countries make up around 40% of the planet's total land surface and are home to almost 3 bn people.

In 2012, Doha hosted more than 20,000 delegates at COP18, and held the Global Drylands Alliance's first meeting of potential member states of 16 countries, partners and specialised entities. At the 68th United Nations General Assembly in 2013, HH The Amir reiterated that the Global Dryland Alliance is 'an initiative created to establish an international organisation to face food insecurity consequences and negative environmental and economic impacts associated with climate change.' The Founding Conference of the GDA was held in October 2017 with 11 Member States signing the Convention on Establishment. Attending the Climate Action Summit in September 2019, HH The Amir announced the substantial contribution of USD100 mn to support small island developing states and least developed countries to address climate change and environmental challenges. Qatar also sent a delegation to COP26, held in Glasgow in late 2021. HH The Amir and a group of Qatari experts joined almost 200 world leaders in discussing answers to the growing climate emergency. The Gulf countries have been accused of contributing a sizable amount of carbon emissions. However, the UN has recognised that the GCC states are making net-zero commitments. The nation's efforts in tackling climate change were reaffirmed during a statement given by HE Sheikha Alya bint Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani at the UN Security Council Arria-Formula Ministerial Meeting on 'Climate Finance for Sustaining Peace and Security' in March 2022. The statement also mentioned a new partnership between the Qatar Fund for Development and the Food and Agriculture Organization –USD1.7 mn is to be donated to vulnerable communities in Somalia to achieve food security and build resilience towards climate change. What Qatar is doing about climate change locally As one of the world’s largest producers of liquefied natural gas (LNG), Qatar is actively looking at the ramifications of climate change, and ways to tackle it. Climate change is included in Qatar National Vision 2030, a long-term policy in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Prior to COP26, the new Ministry of Environment and Climate Change was established and the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) was launched. According to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, 'NCCAP sets a clear roadmap on how Qatar will meet its international commitments to help fight the causes and mitigate the effects of manmade climate change, and in particular to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.' There is also a National Environment and Climate Change Strategy covering five areas: greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, biodiversity, water, circular economy, waste management and land use. The Qatar Food Security Strategy has additionally been extended to include further green spaces. At the same time as COP26, two important new initiatives were unveiled. The Gulf Organization for Research & Development (GORD) announced the launch of a Green Events Tool (GET) in collaboration with UN climate change platforms to help evaluate and reduce the carbon footprint of events, while Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) announced a long-term partnership with Rolls-Royce to create a global centre for climate technology innovation. Qatar's sustainability goals Qatar’s National Environment and Climate Change Strategy (QNE) is an ambitious policy framework to safeguard the state's environment for future generations. Meanwhile, the Qatar National Climate Change Action Plan will chart the next chapter of the nation's environmental journey, its aspirations for sustainable development projects and the achievement of the country's goals in preserving the environment and promoting green growth by 2030.

Like other countries in the Gulf region, Qatar is highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. The new Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has been created to solely address matters of environmental concern and ensure that sustainable and climate-conscious practices are adopted in all sectors of business and society. In September 2021, Qatar’s Council of Ministers approved the National Climate Change Plan, a strategic framework reflecting Qatar’s long-term sustainability ambitions and the urgent need to respond effectively to the climate crisis. An integral part of Qatar National Vision 2030 and in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the plan sets out Qatar’s commitment to tackle climate change by diversifying the economy, building capabilities, and optimising the use of natural resources. It establishes national climate targets to enhance climate resilience through more than 35 measures and over 300 adaptation initiatives focused on mitigation. Commitment to the environment Research: There is a crucial role being played in assessing potential environmental risks and identifying solutions at hubs such as Qatar Science and Technology Park and Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI). Sustainable cities: Lusail City and Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) are both smart and sustainable cities, combining eco-friendly technology with optimised urban planning and the highest environmental standards. MDD is the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project, designed to limit car use to mitigate carbon emissions using such transportation methods as the tram shown below. The projects aims to reduce water usage by up to 30%, and increase energy efficiency through more than 5,200 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels to provide electricity and hot water. Meanwhile, Lusail City has state-of-the-art district cooling to save 65 mn tons of CO2 a year. There is a tram network, park and ride system, and cycle and pedestrian paths for eco-friendly transportation solutions. The Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) generally oversees construction, advocating the use of environmentally sustainable practices in the design and development of infrastructure. The non-profit organisation, part of Qatar Foundation, has three main pillars: Technical Expertise Development, Research and Innovation, and Sustainability Education and Training. QGBC offers its support to professionals in the industry, and hosts an annual Qatar Sustainability Week, engaging with the public to raise awareness. Green transport: The Doha Metro has revolutionised public transport, allowing commuters to access key locations quickly and sustainably. National airline Qatar Airways is working with the aviation industry towards environmental goals and is certified under IATA’s Environmental Assessment programme, a framework for delivering continual improvement of environmental performance. Clean energy: Qatar is a leading exporter of LNG, one of the cleanest fuels in the world, to meet energy needs around the world and reduce carbon emissions from other fossil fuels. The state-owned energy company Qatar Petroleum (QP) rebranded as QatarEnergy (QE) in October 2021 with a new slogan: 'Your Energy Transition Partner'. Speaking at the announcement, HE Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs and CEO and President of QE stated 'Natural gas is our core business, and we are conducting that in the most responsible way. Natural gas is also part of the solution in the ongoing energy transition and that it will be a requirement for sustaining the development of the world for at least a few decades. 'Becoming QatarEnergy reflects our understanding of the global changes and our response to the need to protect our planet and the environment. Not only

will our LNG projects bring additional cleaner energy to customers across the globe, but we will continue our heightened commitment to our central role in the global energy transition.' HE Al Kaabi further stated plans to reduce the carbon intensity of its LNG facilities, 'utilising sophisticated carbon sequestration methods to capture and sequester 9 mn tons of CO2 per annum by the end of this decade.' QatarEnergy launched its Sustainability Strategy in 2021, with several targets in alignment with the Paris Agreement and a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The Strategy was updated in March 2022, setting targets to capture over 11 mn tonnes of CO2 annually by 2035. This will further reduce the carbon intensity of LNG facilities by 35% and upstream facilities by 25% (up from 25% and 15% by 2030 respectively). Qatar is also conducting long-term research to address other environmental priorities in the energy sector, like reducing methane and working with partners to develop and integrate carbon capture and storage technologies across operations. Moving away from the hydrocarbon sector, the state's first large-scale solar power plant was announced in 2020 to provide sustainable, affordable and clean energy. How the public can get involved One of the first projects is the One Million Trees Initiative by the Ministry of Municipality, which will be completed before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM begins. Residents, schools, embassies and the private sector are all encouraged to participate – visit mme.gov.qa to find out more. The Ministry is also raising awareness about waste management under the Zero Waste Campaign to improve community health. The Ministry's waste treatment centre is one of the largest in the Middle East, producing fertiliser, electricity, biogas and recyclable material. Public awareness is the focal point of Qatar Environment Day which takes place on 26 February each year. Residents can take part in webinars and workshops, tree planting and beach clean-ups, as well as watch the release of deer and birds at Qatar's nature reserves. Meanwhile, the Qatar International Agricultural & Environmental Exhibitions (AgriteQ and EnviroteQ) invites industry specialists to explore agricultural technologies and equipment, meet experts and discuss best practices in order to achieve food security and sustainable development.

A sustainable FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Sustainability has been a core consideration in the design, preparation and delivery, so that the tournament leaves a lasting legacy across its infrastructure and environment. Stadiums have been designed to consume 30% less energy and 40% less water, and built to serve communities in Qatar and around the world after the event. The stadiums will have more than 850,000 sq m of new green spaces with over 5,000 native trees and plants. In legacy mode, excess seating will be removed thanks to modular designs – Stadium 974 (below) is even the first fully dismountable venue! In 2015, FIFA and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) began to develop and implement the event’s Sustainability Strategy. This was the first to be planned and delivered jointly by FIFA, SC on behalf of the host country, and the local organisers, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC (Q22). The Sustainability Strategy was unveiled in January 2020 and is in line with the United Nation's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Adopted by world leaders in September 2015, there are 17 universal Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), or Global Goals, and 169 targets, setting out a vision for ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. The Sustainability Strategy for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 TM has been aligned with the most relevant SDGs based upon sustainability topics and human rights issues and will achieve 11 SDGs. See more about the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and its sustainability in our free e-guide, available at marhaba.qa m