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In line with Qatar’s participation at COP 26 and with the framework of Qatar’s keenness to play its role as an active partner to confront Climate Change effects, experts from Qatar Foundation have shared about QF’s research efforts and community initiatives to promote sustainability. The efforts of QF are in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.
Dr. Huda Al Sulaiti, Senior Research Director, Natural and Environmental Hazards Observatory, Qatar Energy and Environmental Research Institute
In order to achieve the desired sustainability or balance in Qatar, we must first answer the following questions: Do we have energy resources? Are they renewable, or non-renewable? We must protect non-renewable energy resources in particular. Second, yes, our natural resources are limited. Third, we have to protect the environment. Our climate is dry and arid. These three factors are very important and characterise the Arab region and Qatar in particular.
On the other hand, we have to ensure justice, community development and economic diversity, not any diversity, but rather a knowledge-based economic diversity. This will reflect on everyone who lives in Qatar.
The main challenges we face are non-renewable energy resources, dry and desert climate, scarce natural resources and water bodies, and low precipitation. Qatar in particular exports large quantities of gas and oil to neighbouring countries, which increases carbon emissions and, as a result, global warming.
Therefore, we must focus on building a knowledge economy and transitioning from a hydrocarbon economy. In addition to all of the above, we also need to increase green spaces.
At the Natural and Environmental Hazards Observatory at the Energy and Environment Research Institute, we monitor environmental and technological risks that may negatively affect Qatar's environmental, economic and social development. We seek to preserve the progress and prosperity that Qatar has achieved by mitigating the impact of these risks on progress and sustainability.
Nawal Al Sulaiti, Sustainability Specialist
A sustainable Qatar means to me an environmentally friendly country, a world leader in research and innovation, that meets the conditions for healthy living for present and future generations.
This is achieved when all efforts are combined to promote a pioneering vision that enables the aspirations of society and makes it a reality. It goes without saying that a sustainable state is established in the first place by a conscious and responsible society and a commitment to the highest environmental standards in all future plans, whether they are economic, urban or social plans.
Ouassim Almi, Strategic Initiatives Advisor
Qatar has the ambition and capabilities to be a model for constructive transformation. We hope to see everyone join hands for a more sustainable future. All countries that choose to move forward on a gradual transition toward a sustainable future face a unique set of challenges. While they invest in changing societal culture and incorporating sustainability into everyday life, they still need to introduce political and strategic changes that support this ambition.
At Qatar Foundation, we focus our efforts on building a conscious society that contributes to and drives the change needed to respond to the risks of climate change. Our journey begins with early education. We are committed to instilling the values of respect for the environment through the curricula, as well as creating opportunities for the rest of the age groups to participate in various sustainability projects and support their ideas.
One of our most important achievements is the success in creating an environment that stimulates innovation and incubates student projects to drive change.
Engineer Meshal Al Shamari, Director of Qatar Green Building Council
To me, a sustainable Qatar means the application of sustainability standards and concepts in all aspects of life, whether as individuals in our daily practice, such as consumption of water, electricity, waste generation, responsible buying and consumption; or as institutions through the way we manage and operate the facilities and buildings we use, whether homes, universities or offices.
Also, a healthy lifestyle is part of sustainability, whether it is exercise, healthy food, or even organic food. Certainly, all aspects of life are directly affected by sustainability.
At Qatar Green Building Council, we work on several fronts to ensure that we put these standards into practice. The first is to spread awareness through national programmes and events such as the Qatar Sustainability Week. The second is technical support. We have developed many special programmes and systems such as the eco-friendly hotel system and the eco-friendly school system. The third focus area is research. We study sustainability best practices and their applicability in Qatar.
Dr. Mohamed Ayoub, Senior Research Director and Founding Director of the Environment and Sustainability Center (ESC), QEERI.
I always default to the environment when I think about sustainability and to me sustainability is all about balance. Balancing our development needs to ensure that we do not irreversibly damage our environment is one understanding of sustainability. Natural systems, like the environment, prefer a state of balance. What we take out of a system has to be replaced with something equivalent to maintain the balance, or vice-versa.
To my mind, Qatar’s greatest sustainability challenge is the accelerated pace of development the country is undergoing. Rapid change is always disruptive, in both good and bad ways. Our challenge is to make sure we have the room to develop in the manner we wish to as a country, but at the same time, make sure this development does not come at the expense of other things we hold valuable.
Our environment, health and productivity are negatively impacted by factors that are both within and outside of our control. Factors under our control include pollution arising from industry and transportation, for example, while external factors include climate change, extreme weather events and others. QEERI’s environment mandate is centred around understanding the impacts of these various factors and developing policy and technology solutions that either eliminate, minimise or adapt to these unwanted impacts.
Hamad M Al Kuwari, Executive Director, City Operations, QF
Sustainability is of the highest importance to Qatar and that is reflected in initiatives around the FIFA 2022 World Cup, initiatives around public transport, conservation programmes like Tarsheed, Qatar Foundation worker welfare standards which are a requirement for our contractors and building operation programmes like the use of Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) water.
My belief is in the personal responsibility and action that will drive sustainability initiatives across Qatar and the world. When you are conscious of the various interconnected issues around sustainability, your personal actions should be a natural outcome of your thoughtfulness and this is where our definition of sustainability is really put to the test.
Nihal Muhammed, Project Manager, Sustainable Cities
One of the most difficult things in laying the foundations of any nation is to integrate all the different sectors into a healthy ecosystem. Environmental improvement often outweighs the economic or financial benefits. However, pursuing a systems-thinking approach would go far beyond just thinking about the environment or the economy. It includes social, psychological, and cultural aspects as well as other aspects that would establish happy, prosperous, and sustainable nations supported by human and environmental resources.
These challenges are not limited to Qatar alone. It must be a source of inspiration and an opportunity to engage with our regional and international partners to collectively coordinate and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The proof of this is that we see today how Qatar is working on the international scene, under the leadership of His Highness the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to affirm its role in finding radical solutions to the climate crises.
Our role as an institution is scientific research and development, education and social development. We are now in a new stage in which we are reaping the fruits of the efforts and work that we launched decades ago with all the institutions in our beloved country. This idea is to help collect all the cumulative intellectual production through a collective effort to provide opportunities for the actual and experimental implementation of projects, which will be reflected in the lives of citizens and residents.
Sheikh Dr. Soud bin Khalifa Al Thani, Sustainability Director, QF
Qatar is blessed with abundant natural resources, so when we think about sustainability we have to look at how we preserve these resources and use them more efficiently. We also need to find common goals to motivate members of the various sectors to collaborate and join efforts towards a more sustainable future for us and our future generations.
One of the key challenges facing Qatar is air pollution and the issue of industrial and consumer waste. Several industries have contributed to the rise of waste, but we also have to recognize efforts undertaken by members of the energy sector to reduce emissions, and their commitment to this matter, which was underscored by their participation in the Climate Change Conference organized by QF in September.
Another challenge is the scarcity of freshwater and the energy consumed to desalinate water to meet our daily demands. We are researching ways to address this on the one hand by conserving water and on the other by finding ways to desalinate using renewable energy.
Education City is a test bed that we can use to try out innovative solutions which can be modelled in the rest of Qatar. We have adopted several kinds of technology to this end such as the electric tram and the use of solar panels.
My role is to oversee the climate change portfolio with QF and also as a professor at Hamad bin Khalifa University, I teach sustainability and encourage the search for innovative solutions to our challenges.
Abdulla Al Naemi, Director, General Services, City Operations, QF
Being ‘Eco-Responsible’ is embedded within the ethos of the soft services we provide as part of the General Services department within the City Operations team in QF. We have worked progressively towards eliminating single use plastics, reducing waste generation in our kitchens, pantries and food service areas, increased focus on recycling, effective waste segregation and introducing green catering practices. We collectively believe that we can continually improve towards achieving a greener tomorrow as we assess and analyze every operation and process to make it more environment friendly. Our generation does not have the luxury to choose environmental sustainability as just an option.
Saleem Al Yafei Director, Facilities & Infrastructure, City Operations, QF
Building operations lighting, heating, and cooling affect approximately 28% of global CO2 emissions. As we operate the infrastructure and facilities for 3.2 million square metres of Qatar Foundation space, it is critical that we develop programmes that minimise our carbon footprint.
QF’s Energy Conservation & Optimisation Programme focuses on optimising electricity and water usage for all our facilities. We run a comprehensive audit program in conjunction with the implementation of smart meters and the use of data analytics to record, measure, and reduce our carbon footprint. The programme also includes the use of LED lamps across Qatar Foundation. Phase 1 of the programme, when completed, will save 17 million kWH/year in electricity. One of our fundamental aspirations has been to turn the campus into a car-free zone. With the Education Tram fully operational, we will see a car free campus leading to a sustainable lifestyle of our community.
Dr. Veronica Bermudez, Senior Research Director of the Energy Center, QEERI.
For me sustainability means reinstating natural equilibrium while continuing economic growth. This can only happen if we consume resources within the Earth’s ecological boundaries and maintain a positive balance around the resources we borrow from Earth.
At a local level Qatar’s greatest sustainability challenge is the environmental pressure which is linked to the management of natural resources. Qatar’s clean fresh water resources are very scarce which is linked to the its fast economic growth and increased internal demand.
This has affected not only local natural reservoirs, but is also affecting the fragile desert and coastal environments and ecosystems.
Electrification and low carbon emission energies, combined with CO2 capture are the key elements to reducing greenhouse gases (existing and future) and hence reducing global temperature increases. My focus at QEERI is trying to capture the already existing CO2 in the atmosphere and transforming it into a resource through added-value products. This contributes to zero emissions targets while keeping societal and economic growth.
I would like to see Qatar reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions and develop strong climate adaptation plans addressing all sectors with a special focus on energy intensive industries. Efforts should focus on decarbonising the industry, and setting ambitious goals to minimize emissions for the short and long-term.
Dr. Hanan Alshareef Farhat, Senior Research Director of the Corrosion Center, QEERI
For me, sustainable Qatar means sustainable environment and sustainable management of the country’s natural resources. Among the biggest challenges Qatar is facing is the ability to produce natural gas with minimum hydrocarbon emissions and to preserve water resources.
At QEERI’s Corrosion Center we develop modern technologies to reduce the leak of oil, gas, and environment pollutants caused by corrosion. We also promote sustainable industrial and civil buildings in the country by reducing their corrosion levels and ensuring their sustainability. Qatar is moving in the right direction, pursuing successful policies to achieve sustainability. I hope to see more policies aimed at reducing corrosion and collapses in industrial installations and promoting awareness to reduce plastic use.
Dr. Marcello Contestabile, Principal Economist, Qatar Energy & Environment Research Institute
The exceptional economic and social development that Qatar has experienced over the last few decades has been made possible by substantial fossil fuel export revenues and by unconstrained use of fossil fuels domestically. This model is no longer sustainable, economically and environmentally, and Qatar is taking steps to transition away from it.
Qatar faces multiple domestic environmental pollution issues, however the greatest challenge of all is global climate change because, it undermines the economic model on which the country has based its development and, it impacts the physical environment of the country throuh ambient temperature rise, extreme weather phenomena, sea level rise and more.
The team I lead is developing a computer-based analytical tool called an energy systems model that will support the Qatari government identify optimum long-term climate policy interventions and technology transition pathways. We are also investigating ways in which Qatar can continue to profit from its natural gas endowment in the long term through converting it into carbon-free energy vectors such as hydrogen.
I would like to see Qatar carve its own original path to sustainability, recognising the unique circumstances of the country and not shying away from questioning existing paradigms. I would also like Qatar to set itself ambitious but achievable targets and to foster real collaboration among government, industry and the research community in order to develop the required solutions.
