Opening the Global Green Growth Institute Office confirms our interest in issues of sustainability and climate change
His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Faleh Bin Nasser Bin Ahmed Bin Ali Al Thani, Minister of Environment and Climate Change stated that the opening of the Global Green Growth Institute Office confirms everyone’s interest in the issues of green growth, sustainability, and climate change in the State of Qatar, which are considered among the most important issues of our time, and confirms the need for our commitment to make more efforts to achieve sustainable development and preserve the environment.
This came during a conference held this morning (Sunday) at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, on climate leadership in the State of Qatar, and the way for the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP27, which is scheduled to be held next November in Sharm El Sheikh.
The conference was attended by His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Bin Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Municipality, His Excellency Ambassador Bader Bin Omar Al Dafa, the Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Climate Change and Sustainability, Dr. Frank Renaud Reperman, Director General of the Global Green Growth Institute, a number of ambassadors accredited to the country, and Mr. Abdullah Mohammad Al Mannai, Director of the Meteorology Department at the General Authority of Civil Aviation, and a number of assistant undersecretaries, directors of departments and those concerned with climate change affairs.
During his speech, the Minister added that the climate change issue is a national priority for the State of Qatar, as ambitious measures were taken over the past year to achieve Qatar’s National Vision of 2030 in protecting the environment, green growth and reducing the effects of climate change, through the development of a national strategy for the environment and climate change, and the preparation of a clear national action plan for climate change in the State of Qatar over the next ten years, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors by 25% by 2030.
The National Action Plan for Climate Change identified more than 35 initiatives to reduce these emissions, as part of the effective measures established to achieve these objectives, which include clear and specific implementation plans.
We also strive to reach the highest levels of investment in low-carbon technologies such as the use of solar energy and carbon sequestration.
His Excellency said that the State of Qatar has strengthened its commitments in the field of international efforts to reduce climate change, through its accession to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by unveiling the National Strategy for Environment and Climate Change (QNE), and identified The National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), all of which enhance the implementation of Qatar National Vision of 2030.
The Ministry was also keen to prepare a cooperation program between the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Global Green Growth Institute, to support climate resilience and green growth planning and policies.
The program will be implemented in Qatar, over a period of 3 years, from 2022 to 2024.
In 2019, the State of Qatar called for the opening of the Global Green Growth Institute Office in Doha, where it was hosted by the Ministry, to begin defining the scope of a number of cooperation program activities that promote climate resilience and green growth in Qatar, where the office serves all national government agencies concerned with climate change.
It is worth noting that the State of Qatar is one of the founding countries of the institute in 2012, and is a member of the institute’s board of directors during the years 2020-2022.
His Excellency the Minister of Environment and Climate Change stressed the keenness for more cooperation with civil society organizations concerned with the environment and climate change and all segments of society, to achieve a better level of coordination and rapprochement in the field of policies and development plans, as well as making the necessary arrangements to protect and develop the use of natural resources, and to ensure their proper exploitation, in a manner that ensures achieving the development strategy for climate change.
In the same context, Dr. Frank Renaud Reberman, Director General and CEO of the Global Green Growth Institute, stressed that the State of Qatar is a founding member of the Global Green Growth Institute, praising its support for the mission of the Global Green Growth Institute, and the distinguished cooperation between them.
He explained that the National Action Plan on Climate Change has a number of important projects that aim to double the country’s solar energy capacity, from the current 800 megawatts to more than 1.6 gigawatts by 2024. These are remarkable developments that everyone can be proud of.
He pointed out that the world is moving towards a new model of green growth and low carbon economy in the era of climate crisis and biodiversity loss, and every country, including Qatar, will be required to do more, to prepare for the expected effects of climate change.
He added that the Global Green Growth Institute is ready to support Qatar at this stage, as an intergovernmental organization with the sole mandate to promote green growth and climate resilience around the world, whether to support local climate action in Qatar or as an implementing partner for international cooperation for the State of Qatar through Qatar Fund for Development. He also called for supporting the development of climate policies and helping to identify opportunities for their implementation, through green finance and green infrastructure projects.
Dr. Parnab Baruah, the representative of the Office of the Global Green Growth Institute in the State of Qatar, also provided an overview of the cooperation program between the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Global Institute for Green Growth, the nature of the office’s work in the State of Qatar, the joint projects between them, and the support of national and strategic plans in the field of green growth and climate leadership.
The conference concluded with conducting a roundtable on Qatar’s leadership in climate action, in which Ambassador Bader Bin Omar Al Dafa, Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Climate Change and Sustainability, Dr. Frank Renaud Reberman, Director General of the Global Green Growth Institute, and Mr. Abdullah Mohammed Al Mannai, Director of the Department of Meteorology in the General Authority of Civil Aviation.
During the roundtable Ambassador Bader Omar Al Dafa, Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Climate Change and Sustainability stressed that the State of Qatar is one of the countries committed to implementing all international agreements and projects, that support reducing global temperature and carbon and other international obligations, as Qataris are closely linked to the land from ancient times, and to preserving the environment of their homeland, hoping that future generations will follow the same path.
He noted that all countries should cooperate with each other, take unified positions and measures that would mitigate the harmful effects of climate change, and look to the future of future generations.
The round table also discussed the efforts of the State of Qatar in the field of climate leadership and green growth, and the most prominent preparations of the State of Qatar for the Conference of Parties (COP27) to be held in Sharm El Sheikh.
