MoECC, GGGI to develop Qatar's National Adaptation Plan

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), in partnership with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) office in Qatar, hosted a workshop to outline the development of Qatar's National Adaptation Plan (NAP).

The MoECC undersecretary Abdulaziz bin Ahmed al-Mahmoud participated in the event, which brought together over 150 participants from various sectors, including public and private industries, academia, and civil society. The aim was to shape and guide the development of the NAP.

Qatar is facing significant challenges due to climate change, such as rising sea levels, water scarcity, extreme heat, and severe weather events, it was pointed out. These issues threaten critical sectors, including energy, water, infrastructure, coastal resilience, public health, agriculture, livestock, and biodiversity.

To tackle these challenges, the NAP will incorporate medium- and long-term climate adaptation strategies into Qatar's national development plans. This initiative seeks to support the country's transition to a greener, more sustainable economy.

Engineer Ahmed Mohamed al-Sada, assistant undersecretary for Climate Change Affairs, stressed the urgency of enhancing resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate risks in sectors such as water management, infrastructure, coastal areas, healthcare, biodiversity, and food security. He highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to advancing Qatar's NAP.

Chiden Balmes, acting head of the GGGI office in Qatar, stressed the importance of the project, highlighting the institute's partnership with the Ministry.

"This will be a groundbreaking policy – the first of its kind in Qatar – that will outline the medium- and long-term adaptation priorities to address the negative impacts of climate change, transforming these threats into opportunities for sustainable growth and prosperity," he said.

The workshop presented key findings from previous climate vulnerability assessments and provided participants with a clear understanding of how to contribute additional information regarding adaptation activities.

Interactive visualisation exercises, along with detailed explanations of the NAP process, helped participants understand their roles in shaping Qatar's adaptation priorities and sharing essential data to inform the plan's development.

The project aims to protect Qatar from the impacts of climate change by addressing vulnerable sectors. It will contribute to safeguarding the country's economy, population, and coastal areas. The development of the NAP will identify and address Qatar’s medium- and long-term adaptation priorities, aligning them with broader national development strategies and promoting a green and sustainable economy.