Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie addressing the event.
Doha, Qatar: Government officials, business leaders, academics and researchers gathered to discuss Qatar’s efforts and promote collaboration in tackling climate change at the Qatar National Dialogue on Climate Change 2024 (QNDCC 2024), yesterday at the Qatar National Convention Centre.
The two-day event is organised by Earthna Centre, a member of Qatar Foundation, in partnership with Ministry of Environment and Climate Change as part of the Qatar Sustainability Week (QSW) 2024 which is being marked across the country from September 28 to October 5.
QNDCC also serves as a platform for shaping national and international climate policies, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in addressing climate challenges.
Addressing the event, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, stressed that QNDCC 2024 represents an important platform for unifying the efforts of national and international institutions. It facilitates the exchange of expertise and experiences and promotes the development of innovative solutions to address the challenges of climate change.
He said that this contributes to enhancing Qatar’s ability to adapt to these challenges and to develop sustainable environmental strategies that benefit both present and future generations.
In an important move, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Earthna have launched a series of white papers during QNDCC 2024. From leveraging AI and green finance, to driving policy reform and international collaboration, these papers highlight the path forward for Qatar and the world in achieving environmental sustainability.
Al Subaie said that the participation of this large and diverse number of national and international entities, and the elite of those interested in climate change issues from around the world, in addition to the private sector and civil society, is a testament to Qatar’s firm commitment to addressing climate challenges and enhancing climate efforts at the local, regional, and global levels.
It also confirms the importance of dialogue and the need to unify ranks and efforts to address those challenges that affect the present and the future, stressing the MoECC’s constant keenness to consider the opinions and proposals put forward by everyone.
Al Subaie said that this dialogue’s edition focuses on several key themes that will support the sustainable development process and achieve a real transformation in how to deal with the challenges of climate change, including solutions for adapting to the effects of climate change in the State of Qatar, based on the belief in the importance of adaptation and enhancing flexibility in dealing with the repercussions of climate change in various development paths.
It also sheds light on environmental and sustainable tourism, discusses ways to enhance it, and reviews successful experiences and practices in this field from the State of Qatar and around the world, in addition to reviewing the essential role played by national efforts in addressing climate change.
Minister of Transport H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti (second left), Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie (centre), Minister of Municipality H E Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah (second right) at the event yesterday.
The Minister stressed the importance of exerting the necessary efforts to ensure the benefit of current and future generations at all national levels to provide a safe climate and an environmentally sustainable future.
He noted that this dialogue represents more than just an opportunity to exchange ideas, as it is a step toward enhancing Qatar’s active role on the international stage in dealing with climate change issues and a new stage in developing capabilities for innovation and finding sustainable solutions.
Chairman of Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah International Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah said that climate change is a real and clear global problem, the results of which are evident in the rise in sea levels and their threat to coastal areas, and the increase in extreme weather phenomena, such as hurricanes, heat waves, and droughts, which threaten lives, agriculture, infrastructure and economies, leading to water shortages and food insecurity.
He noted that the loss of biodiversity is accelerating with increasing disturbances to the ecosystem, rising temperatures, and extreme weather leading to increased health risks. Al Attiyah said that 2024 witnessed the “hottest day” and the “hottest summer” ever, and these are not passing incidents but rather the result of many years of increasing carbon emissions.
He said that at COP28 in 2023, world leaders agreed on a sustainable and just energy transition, which is the only way to protect the planet, safeguard resources, and secure a better world for future generations. He stressed that the Qatar National Dialogue discussions on climate change constitute an important step towards that future, as “together, we can make a difference.”
Earthna Executive Director Dr. Gonzalo Castro de la Mata said that the success of the event over the past three years in establishing itself as a unique platform for exchanging ideas, enriching discussions, and translating them into effective steps to address the effects of climate change.
He said that climate change affects everyone, making it essential for all, be it individuals, companies, organizations, academic institutions, and government entities to recognize their role in addressing this crisis and to collectively take decisive measures to ensure a sustainable future.
In keeping with the sustainability goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030, this year’s QNDCC plays a crucial role in forming the country’s response to climate change, by identifying and shaping the measures and actions to which collective commitment is needed to mitigate the effects of climate change and adapt.
