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.
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.
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. ©
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