Doha: HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie hailed Qatar Environment Day as a national milestone that consolidates environmental sustainability and community awareness of preserving natural resources. His Excellency added the occasion held under the theme "Our Environment... Sustainable Giving" is a major driver for enhancing cooperation between various sectors in the country to contribute effectively to protecting the environment and ensuring its sustainability.
According to Qatar News Agency, Qatar Environment Day is observed on February 26 annually. This year's slogan reflects the importance of preserving the environment as a permanent source of life and development, while achieving a balance between meeting human needs and protecting environmental resources to ensure their sustainability for future generations.
HE Al Subaie added that the State of Qatar has achieved many important accomplishments in the field of sustainable environmental development in 2024, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, primarily the launch of the Ministry's National Strategy 2024-30 under the slogan "Together toward a sustainable environment for a better future". The strategy has many ambitious goals including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2030, restoring 30 percent of environmentally affected natural habitats, as well as protecting 30 percent of land and coastal areas, in addition to preserving endemic and endangered species, and reducing the introduction of invasive species by 50 percent.
HE the Minister explained that the Ministry has developed the air quality monitoring network, by deploying 45 monitoring stations across the country, in addition to installing 13 new stations to monitor the impact of vehicles on air quality, noting in this regard that the public can learn about air quality, through the Ministry's website, which has been updated recently. His Excellency stated during his statements that the Ministry launched a public platform for analyzing non-ionizing radiation frequencies, in addition to launching an environmental air monitoring system using the Autogyro helicopter.
Regarding the protection of biodiversity, His Excellency noted that Qatari territorial waters contain large numbers of whale sharks and dugongs, which confirms that the marine environment of the State of Qatar is safe. He said that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change pays great attention to the terrestrial environment, through the implementation of the project to rehabilitate the meadow and settle endangered wild plants, and the Ministry has completed fencing 70 meadows in all areas of the Qatari mainland, pointing out that the Umm Al Sheif area has been classified as a nature reserve, due to its environmental and historical importance, as it is a rich habitat for marine organisms and enhances the environmental balance in Qatari waters.
In the context of protecting wildlife, His Excellency confirmed the continuation of the breeding programs for endangered species, where 2,970 heads of 9 species were preserved including the Arabian oryx, sand gazelle, tortoise, and ostrich. The first phase of the program to protect and restore coral reefs in Qatari waters was also completed.
On the level of international cooperation and climate action, His Excellency explained that the Ministry participated with a special pavilion at the COP29 Conference, and that it continues to work on developing the National Adaptation Planning in cooperation with the Global Green Growth Institute, with the aim of enhancing the country's ability to confront climate change and fulfill its international environmental obligations.
Concluding his remarks, HE Al Subaie reiterated that Qatar Environment Day represents an opportunity to enhance coordination between various national entities and consolidate the concepts of environmental sustainability, which contributes to achieving a balance between economic development and the preservation of natural resources, stressing that the Ministry continues to implement its plans according to an integrated approach in line with national environmental priorities, to ensure a sustainable future for future generations.
For his part, HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Eng. Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud stressed that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility that requires concerted efforts to preserve natural resources and ensure their sustainability for future generations, stressing that preserving the environment is not limited to policies and legislation but requires societal awareness and responsible behavior in dealing with natural resources.
His Excellency pointed out that Qatar Environment Day embodies the state of Qatar's commitment to achieving balanced environmental development that supports economic development without compromising the elements of sustainability, noting that this occasion represents an opportunity to enhance the role of individuals and institutions in adopting environmentally friendly practices and establishing the principles of sustainability in various aspects of daily life.
In turn, Assistant Undersecretary for Climate Change Affairs Eng. Ahmed Mohammed Al Sada, stressed that the State of Qatar attaches great importance to climate change, as this issue is one of the most prominent environmental challenges in the world. He noted that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is implementing strategies and policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions and enhancing the ability to adapt to climate change.
Al Sada pointed out that the Climate Change Sector is working to implement these strategies in coordination with the relevant authorities, in order to set standards and guidelines for clean development projects, pointing to Qatar's commitment to fulfilling its international obligations arising from environmental agreements and protocols.
Meanwhile, Assistant Undersecretary for Protection and Affairs and Natural Reserves Dr. Ibrahim Abdul Latif Al Muslimani stressed that the State of Qatar pays great attention to preserving biodiversity and wildlife, within the framework of Qatar National Vision 2030, which targets environmental development in its fourth pillar, noting that based on this principle, the state has designated February 26 of each year as Qatar Environment Day, with the aim of highlighting the importance of protecting the environment and promoting environmental sustainability.
In this regard, Assistant Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs Abdul Hadi Nasser Al Marri stressed that Qatar Environment Day represents an important national occasion and an opportunity to review the environmental achievements made during the past period, and to shed light on the ongoing and future efforts to protect the environment and promote sustainable development, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.
He explained that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change continued to implement integrated environmental policies during the past year, ensuring the highest levels of performance in the departments concerned with the environment sector, to ensure compliance with procedures aimed at reducing the risks of pollution, stressing the continuation of efforts to follow up on the commitment of projects, facilities and activities to the environmental standards and requirements that have been set in accordance with the Environment Law and its executive regulations.
He added that through environmental impact assessment studies, the necessary permits are issued to ensure the implementation of development projects according to sound environmental foundations that take into account sustainability and the protection of natural resources.