Nairobi / Information Office / February 24
The State of Qatar participated in the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5), which was held through video conference.
The delegation of the State of Qatar to the session was headed by HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Kenya and the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations office in Nairobi, Jaber bin Ali Al Dosari.
HE the Ambassador said in a speech during the leadership dialogues session on the contribution of the environmental dimension of sustainable development to building a resilient and inclusive post-pandemic world that the Coronavirus pandemic has had many repercussions on societies in various aspects and fields. He stressed however that its effects should not detract the international community from ensuring that the environmental dimension as countries strive for sustainable development.
Addressing this pandemic and its repercussions will only be done by collective action and international cooperation, so it is imperative to follow this path, and strive to take measures that will enhance our capabilities to address the environmental challenges raised by the pandemic, and to enhance our capabilities to recover from them in a manner that takes into account the preservation and sustainability of all ecosystems, HE the Ambassador explained.
His Excellency referred to the ongoing efforts regarding the new medium-term strategy of the United Nations Environment Program, which we hope will be based on the lessons learned from the pandemic. Furthermore, its reliance on the axis of flexibility and resilience to face such current conditions in the future, in addition to its strengthening of the program's efforts within the framework of supporting national programs and projects in countries in a manner that harmonizes development requirements and environmental sustainability.
His Excellency pointed out that the State of Qatar relies on the principle of strategic planning in order to achieve the requirements of development and progress, whether on the economic, social or environmental levels, enlightened in this by the Qatar National Vision 2030, so the pandemic was not a major obstacle that would be difficult to overcome, but rather a challenge and a catalyst for us to work positively towards achieving our strategic goals for development.
The State of Qatar spared no effort to advance the wheel of development in conjunction with the pandemic and the challenges that came with it, which were the key to new horizons and space for development in existing national plans and programs, by strengthening preventive measures in a way that balances the preservation of resources in light of the pandemic and preserving the environment, he added.
We have not overlooked the importance of interacting with the international community within the framework of the international environmental agreements to which the State of Qatar has acceded, as we have participated and closely followed up on all developments resulting from the compass reorientation of the plans and programs of these agreements due to the pandemic, he continued.