Sheba George, Youth Ambassador to the Youth Assembly, United Nations. Photo by Annie Martin
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s commitment to sustainable development is poised to advance progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) both domestically and internationally.
In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula, Sheba George, Youth Ambassador to the Youth Assembly at the United Nations (UN) said “Qatar is actively spearheading sustainable development efforts, both domestically and globally,” adding that Qatar’s National Vision 2030 plan will bolster the country’s economy into a knowledge-based one with a strong emphasis on sustainable development.
George highlighted Qatar’s commitment to the SDGs by noting several of the country’s cross-sectoral initiatives in sustainable development.
Regarding energy, she stated, “As a major natural gas and oil producer, Qatar recognises the importance of shifting towards renewable energy sources and has developed an ambitious Energy Transition Plan to increase the share of its renewable energy by 2030, thereby contributing to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).”
The UN Youth Ambassador underscored Qatar’s efforts as a coastal nation to enhance the protection of marine ecosystems, stating “Qatar has undertaken innovative legislative and monitoring measures to tackle pollution and preserve marine areas, in alignment with SDG 14 (Life Below Water).” With regards to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), she noted that Qatar has achieved remarkable levels of health and security measures domestically.
The official stressed that Qatar also supports the advancement of SDGs globally through its role as a donor government. Remarking the country’s provision of Official Development Assistance (ODA), George stated “Qatar provides significant volumes of ODA financing for socio-economic development in low- and middle-income countries.”
Drawing attention to Qatar’s financial support of global development efforts, George outlined that Qatar’s ODA has steadily increased in the past years, reaching up to $820m (QR2.9bn) in 2022.
She also commended Qatar’s notable efforts in enabling humanitarian response and the provision of essential services to people affected by humanitarian crises, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Looking ahead at her role as a Youth Ambassador at the 28th Youth Assembly session, which will be held in mid-August at the UN head quarters in New York, George discussed the role of youth in supporting the advancement of the SDGs.
“Youth have undeniably emerged as a major force for sustainable development. Around the world, youth’s impassioned calls for justice, their creative solutions for change, and their valiant confrontations of inequality have been instrumental in driving progress on the SDGs. Moreover, with a staggering population of 1.8 billion individuals, today’s youth, who represent the largest youth generation in history, have an unparalleled opportunity to shape the trajectory of the world,” she said. However, the official notes that youth constantly grapples in having their voices heard, opinions valued, and presence acknowledged. She stated that “At the forefront of challenges is the prevailing skepticism about youth’s impact. Youth voices are often dismissed as mere echoes of inexperience and ignored in the corridors of power.” She also accentuated that the current lack of strong institutional and financial support can prevent “meaningful youth participation” in sustainable development efforts.
The Youth Ambassador stressed that world leaders must come forward to remove systematic barriers to youth engagement. She underscored the critical role that governments can play in promoting youth engagement in decision-making processes, facilitating youth involvement in public and private sectors, and supporting youth-led initiatives.
George expounded that “As the world struggles with complex global issues, it is imperative to nurture the potential of determined young changemakers and bring all hands on board to support global development efforts.”
According to a recent report by the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA), Qatar has achieved a milestone of 82 percent of the 2030 SDG indicators, reflecting the country’s steadfast commitment to the UN SDGs.
