Climate change national, global priority for Qatar, says minister

HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali al-Thani said Tuesday that the issue of climate change is a priority for Qatar at the local and global levels, pointing out to the steps taken by the State in this field. During the opening session of the International Conference on Climate Change and Human Rights, which kicked off in Doha Tuesday, HE the Minister of Environment said that Qatar has taken ambitious measures over the past years to achieve the Qatar National Vision 2030 in protecting the environment and limiting the effects of climate change.
He stressed that Qatar adopted a clear and balanced approach in addressing the phenomenon of climate change in light of the Qatar National Vision 2030, and the motives it carries for progress and acceleration of development, in order to achieve environmental, social and economic sustainability, making many efforts in various sectors. In pursuit of achieving the goals of the strategic plan for the environment, a national plan for climate change has been developed, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from all sectors by 2030, he added.
HE Sheikh Dr Faleh pointed out that the National Climate Change Action Plan 2030 (NCCAP) identified more than 35 initiatives to reduce emissions and more than 300 initiatives to adapt to the effects of climate change as part of achieving the effective measures set to achieve the plan, which include clear and specific implementation plans. He also pointed out that Qatar highlighted its nationally determined contributions to the climate, which reflect the level of ambition it seeks to achieve in reducing emissions, and give a transparent picture of the approach and actions taken to achieve adaptation to climate change and mitigate its effects.
Qatar will continue to work towards translating the commitments contained in the Paris climate agreement, he said. At the global level, HE Sheikh Dr Faleh explained that Qatar sought to take the initiative in the Summit for Climate Action, which was held in New York in September 2019, where His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani announced Qatar's $100mn contribution to support small island developing states and least developed countries to deal with climate change, natural hazards and environmental challenges, and build capacity to face their devastating effects, as this contributes to preserving human rights from the effects of climate change.
He drew attention to Qatar's preparations to host the fifth United Nations conference on the least developed countries next month to reduce the negative effects of climate change. He said that climate change poses many problems that are intertwined in their economic, environmental and social dimensions, and have extremely dangerous negative repercussions on all forms of life, including human life, specially on the paths of sustainable development that all peoples aspire to.
HE Sheikh Dr Faleh also drew attention to the effects of climate change and measures to address them on human rights, such as the right to life, the right to water and sanitation services, the right to food, health, housing and development. He hoped that the conference would achieve the desired goals, and that it would be an opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices to confront the risks posed by climate change and its impact on human rights.