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Ministry of Foreign Affairs – State of Qatar
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Foreign Policy

climate change

Timeline of Qatar’s efforts towards combatting climate change

 

 International Efforts

 

  1996: Qatar ratifies the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in accordance with its long-standing commitment to addressing global environmental challenges.

 2005: Qatar signed the Kyoto Protocol, which was an international treaty extended from the 1992 UNFCCC that commits its partners to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

 2012: Doha hosted the Eighteenth session of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, with more than 20,000 delegates including government officials, UN organizations and civil society members

 22 April 2016: Qatar signed the Paris Protocol for Climate Change Agreement, which was then ratified in 2017.

 September 2019: The emir of Qatar, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, announced Qatar’s contribution of $100 million to support small developing states to address climate change and their environmental challenges.

 September 2021: Qatar’s Council of Ministers approved the National Climate Change Plan, where the Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy was launched. This entailed a strategic framework reflecting Qatar’s long-term sustainability goals, and the urgent need to respond effectively to the international climate crisis.

 November 2021: The state of Qatar attended the COP26 conference in Glasgow, where it discussed its plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

 March 2022: Qatar hosted the 20th edition of the Doha Forum, under the theme “Transforming for a New Era,” with a core focus on Climate Change and Sustainability.

 

 

National Efforts

 

Sustainable Cities

Qatar has successfully designed two sustainable smart cities, Lusail City and Msheireb downtown, which were designed to optimize sustainable urban planning through the application of world-class environmental standards, to promote environmental stewardship and research. A successful example of this is Msheireb Downtown which is the world’s first successful downtown regeneration project.

Environmental Research

The State of Qatar is highly committed to producing the most innovative and organic research projects, which is why the country has invested in world-renowned environmental institutions such as the Qatar Science and Technology Park, Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), etc. Such research institutions ensure constant innovation and development in the fields of environmental preservation, sustainability, and technology.

 Transportation

Qatar has launched significant green public transportation and infrastructure projects in the past few years. The biggest project to launch has been the Doha Metro, which has gained significant appraisals as one of the most multimodal transportation systems in the world that is reliable and eco-friendly.

 

 

Qatar’s National 2030 Vision

  • Part of Qatar’s 2030 vision aims to tackle climate change is the diversification of Qatar’s economy, enhancing building capabilities, and optimizing the use of the country’s natural resources sustainably, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
  • On October 28, 2021, Qatar launched a national climate change action plan which aims to reduce 25% of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
  • By 2027, Qatar aims to expand its LNG production to 127 million tons annually by 2027, which will combat towards climate change since modern technology has allowed natural gas to be a somewhat renewable source of energy, that will replace high-polluting fuels like oil and coal.

 


Office of the Special Envoy for Climate Change and Sustainability

Bader Omar Al-Dafa
  • Ambassador Al Dafa is Qatar's Special Envoy for Climate Change and Sustainability and the Executive Director of the Global Dryland Alliance (GDA), an international organization dedicated to food security in dryland countries. He is the Commissioner-General of Doha Expo 2023. Al-Dafa served from 2007 to 2010 as the United Nations Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
  • Ambassador Al Dafa served as UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
  • Al Dafa has served as Ambassador of Qatar to the United States and Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States (OAS).  In this capacity, he played a special role in promoting access to education and the arts in the Arab-American community and among other US minorities.
  • Al Dafa has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in foreign affairs and non-governmental services, which has included representing Qatar as Ambassador to Russia, France, Egypt and Spain.  He has also served as the non-resident Ambassador to Switzerland, Greece, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Mexico.  Mr. Al Dafa has also served as Director of the European and American Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • He was also a member of Qatar Foundation's Cultural Development Center and Vice President of the Qatar Heritage and Identity Center. He played a key role in organizing inter-faith, free trade and democracy related conferences.


 Functions of the Office
  • To promote and develop bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and all countries in the field of environment, sustainability and climate change.
  • To promote the achievements of the State of Qatar in green energy, green building norms, reductions of emissions, protection of the environment, and biodiversity among other sustainability matters.
  • To monitor and advise on climate-related reports from different entities
  • To monitor and report on research and innovation in the field of climate change
  • To coordinate with Qatar's diplomatic missions all over the world in the area of climate and sustainability.
  • To participate in all high-level meetings, conferences and forums on climate and environment such as the annual Conference of the Parties (COP), Stockholm 50+, and UN Ocean.

 

 

 Prominent Figures

 

 Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah
  • H.E. Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah was the former Deputy prime minister and minister  
  • From September 1992 to January 2011, Al-Attiyah was Qatar's Minister of Energy and Industry.
  • His Excellency established the Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah International Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development.
  • The Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah International Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development is a non-profit organization established to preserve and build upon H.E. Al-Attiyah’ s 40 years of service in the energy industry. His legacy includes important roles in a variety of senior leadership positions within the Government of Qatar and the international community on issues confronting humanity, including climate change and sustainable development.

 

 Mohammed Al-Sada
  • Mohammed Al-Sada was the previous minister of energy and industry of Qatar and the chairman of Qatar Petroleum from 2011 until 2014.
  • From 2007 up until 2011, he was minister of state for Energy and Industry Affairs and Cabinet Member.
  • From 1995 – 1997, Al-Sada was the Corporate Manager of Safety, Quality and Environment Department.
  • In this capacity, Dr. Al-Sada was responsible for developing company-wide Safety, Quality and environmental policy and its implementation. Pioneered oil spill control activities in collaboration with ROPME and MEMAC.
  • His Excellency led the Qatari National Climate Change Committee in preparation for Kyoto Protocol negotiations.
  • He also led company-wide programs for Quality Management and Certification in accordance with ISO standards.

 

Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi
  • Saad Sherida al-Kaabi is the current Minister of Energy in Qatar, and the President and CEO of QatarEnergy, the state-owned corporation which operates all oil and gas activities in the State of Qatar.
  • In 2006, Mr. Al-Kaabi was appointed as the Director of QatarEnergy’s Oil & Gas Ventures Directorate, where he was overseeing all of Qatar’s oil and gas fields’ developments as well as all the exploration activities in Qatar.
  • On November 4, 2018, His Excellency Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi was appointed Minister of State for Energy Affairs and Cabinet member of the State of Qatar, and Deputy Chairman of QatarEnergy, in addition to his position as President & CEO.
  • H.E. the Minister emphasized, in his keynote speech during the 11th LNG Producer-Consumer Conference,  the need for a fair and effective transition towards our future ideal in which we can balance the needs for economic development with our climate ambitions. He stated that “without a realistic stable path towards the reduction of our carbon footprint, we will become more vulnerable to extreme climate change events.

 

Fahad Al-Attiyah
  • Al-Attiyah was the former Chairman of Qatar’s National Food Security Program from 2010 – 2014. His Excellency was also the chairman of The Conference of Parties (COP-18) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) committee. As a food security expert, Al-Attiyah was tasked with making food secure in the long run.

 

 Saif Al-Hajari
  • Dr. Saif Ali Al-Hajari is the former vice-chairperson of Qatar Foundation Board of Directors, the founder and chairman of the Friends of Environment Center (FEC), and the chairman of the Qatari Committee for Sports and Environment.