Doha: Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani has said that the Ministry is working hard to preserve the environment and enhance sustainability, pointing out that 27 percent of the country’s area is made up of natural reserves.
Addressing the opening session of the second World Congress of Engineering and Technology (WCET), which kicked off yesterday at Qatar University, the Minister pointed out that the international agreements and UN recommendations stipulate that the natural reserves should cover 30 percent of the total land area, and 30 percent of maritime space classified as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
Hey highlighted the MoECC’s endeavors to achieve this specified area in the coming years, while preserving plant and animal biodiversity in the country.
Highlighting the Ministry’s strategy for the environment and climate change, currently being implemented thanks to various national agencies’ efforts, the Minister said that one of the MoECC’s commitments is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2030, stressing that the State of Qatar is able to reach that percentage ahead of the specified time.
He said that Qatar deployed more than 40 air quality monitoring stations nationwide in a bid to reach a permanent air quality monitoring system in the country.
The Minister highlighted the MoECC’s efforts to digitize all services provided to the public and its many successful projects, such as cooperation with the banking sector for green financing and project services.
In a related context, he highlighted the cooperation between the Ministry and the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council, to launch a new innovation opportunity in the logistics services sector to find innovative solutions for the rapid detection system for banned and restricted chemicals at entry points for containers and parcels.
The Minister noted the MoECC’s collaboration with Qatar Universality in the research and training areas, as well as cooperation with other agencies such as ExxonMobil Research in a number of studies related to site rehabilitation, marine life monitoring, and geological survey.
