Environment, Climate Change Minister Commends Qatar's Efforts To Address Climate Change Phenomenon
Intiqab Rawoof
February 7, 2022
HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed Al-Thani said that creation of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change represents a strategic step that confirms the continuous interest and unlimited support of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani regarding the issue of environment and climate, and gives impetus to the State’s efforts to address climate change.
In an interview with Al-Raya newspaper published on Sunday, HE said that one of the Ministry’s top priorities is to implement the directives of HH the Amir in his speech at the opening of the Shura Council session, in pursuit of achieving sustainable environmental development that has been translated into objectives and projects in Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy 2030, which will provide a national framework to enhance joint cooperation among all concerned sectors in the country. These projects will be implemented through Qatar National Action Plan for Climate Change 2030, which will embody the State’s directions in the environmental field and achieve aspirations in this regard, HE added.
Regarding air quality monitoring stations in the FIFA World Cup stadiums, HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change stressed that they are part of the expansion of the air quality monitoring network in the country. The Ministry has contracted with a specialized company to supply, install and operate these stations before the start of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2202 to include eight main stadiums and training grounds, through cooperation with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy in selecting and preparing the stations’ sites according to the highest international standards, HE said.
The operation of the first air quality monitoring station near the training grounds at Qatar University, equipped with the best international technologies, has been completed and has been linked to the national air quality monitoring network in the country, HE noted.
The installation of a station in Al Janoub Stadium was also completed, and is now being activated in preparation for its operation and linking it to the national air quality monitoring network. Work is currently underway to install another station at Al Thumama Stadium, HE added.
On the phenomenon of climate change, HE stated that the climate change and its effects are among the most important challenges facing the countries of the world in general. The consequences of this phenomenon go beyond being only environmental to economic and social consequences, HE the Minister said, pointing that the most important challenges facing the countries of the region are: water scarcity, desertification, the negative impact on coastal areas and marine life, as well as the rise in air temperature.
HE stressed on the keenness of the State of Qatar, under the leadership of HH the Amir and his personal attendance at international climate conferences, actively participates with the countries of the world in limiting the damages of the phenomenon of climate change. Qatar has contributed material support to the countries most affected, particularly the islands threatened by drowning because of high sea levels, HE pointed out.
The State of Qatar realizes the urgent need to address this phenomenon and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, HE Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser said, adding that 2021 is a basic basis for advancing the path of the State of Qatar in dealing with this issue.
HE pointed out that the National Environment and Climate Change Strategy was launched, which placed the axis of reducing greenhouse gas emissions among the five priority areas in the strategy, in addition to the submission of the nationally determined contribution plan for the State of Qatar to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which reflects the level of ambition planned for the State of Qatar to achieve in addressing the phenomenon of climate change, as well as the state’s declaration of its commitment to reduce carbon emissions in the country by 25 percent by 2030 to make Qatar a pioneer in this field.
Other sectoral strategies that the Ministry is working to implement will be completed, such as the National Biodiversity Strategy (2015-2025), and the programs proposed in the National Action Plan to Combat Desertification (2015-2024), in addition to implementing programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality to reduce global warming and climate change problems, protect the ozone layer, restore the abundance of biodiversity, protect wildlife and marine life, combat the deterioration resulting from various activities, combating desertification, and enhancing Qatars role in international agreements related to the environment and climate change.
Qatar has already enacted many laws and legislations related to the preservation of the environment and its natural resources, which ensured the preservation of the environment in accordance with the requirements of sustainable development while achieving a balance in it, as it developed a legal system for the environment and gave it the utmost attention in all its legal and procedural articles with the aim of protecting it from the abuses of violators, HE said.
His Excellency pointed out that awareness of social responsibility towards environmental issues is constantly improving among members of society, and the Ministry will work to enhance this awareness and educate the community about the importance of its participation in achieving sustainable environmental development goals by adopting correct environmental practices.
Regarding securing the country’s entry points to prevent the entry of radioactive materials and sources into the country, HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed Al-Thani affirmed the State of Qatar’s keenness to secure all its air, sea and land border entry points by installing state-of-the-art technology to be used for fixed and mobile radiation detection.
HE explained that these devices worked to monitor and detect radioactive and nuclear materials that were not subject to regulatory control, in order to ensure that they were not used in acts of sabotage, as well as to combat illicit trafficking in radioactive and nuclear materials, in accordance with Standards and Guidelines issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and in compliance with the implementation of international conventions and treaties on nuclear security, which Qatar signed
In accordance with the Radiation Protection Law No. 31 of 2002 and the executive regulations and instructions issued thereunder, there are clear and strict procedures that control the entry of radioactive materials and sources into the country through customs points starting with the licenses of importing sides whether medical, research, security, and industrial, and obligating them to obtain an import license for these materials, HE said. He added that before they enter the country, and when they reach the countrys entry border points, shipments are inspected by the Ministry’s round-the-clock inspectors at all customs ports in the country with the help of the latest mobile and fixed advanced devices (border control gates), and after passing the inspection, they are transported in a licensed vehicle driven by a licensed driver to transport these materials to the final destination, which applies the requirements for storage and use, and until the completion of their use and disposal by exporting them outside the country.
Regarding any abnormal radiation wave, His Excellency explained that during the past years, an integrated system for radiological monitoring was established in the country for water, air, soil and some industrial materials. He further said the system is composed of three parts, the first one is strengthening border control through border gate devices to enhance the country’s capabilities in radiation detection, and the second one is establishing an integrated radiation laboratory divided into several sections including: analyzing samples and taking radiological measurements, as well as measuring personal radiation doses for workers in the field of radiological work to ensure their safety, in addition to establishing calibration and radiometrics Laboratory, which aims to calibrate all radiological devices periodically. The minister explained that the third part is the mobile radiological laboratory, which provides quantitative and qualitative support in facilitating the work of experts and researchers in completing radiological measurements at sites and conducting field environmental research to estimate radiation levels as well as measuring the radiological background of the country, and rapid intervention in radiological emergencies.
HE stated that there is currently an early warning network for radiological monitoring of ionizing radiation in the air distributed throughout the country and has been linked with a control room in the ministry, and recently an expansion contract was signed for this network to cover the land and sea of the country completely, to serve as round-the-clock early warning network for any unusual recorded radioactive wave that requires implementation of the requirements of the radiological emergency plan for the purpose of preventing the effects of such radiation on the State and its population.
Concerning the special network for monitoring sea water quality, HE the Minister stressed that the maritime monitoring network contributes to the follow-up of the quality of the marine environment and monitoring coasts and water moment by moment by measuring changes and factors of the sea and environment, in addition to providing data to the concerned authorities and giving early warning.
HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change pointed out that the buoys of Ras Laffan and Hamad Port were electronically linked with the ministry’s Monitoring and Environmental Laboratory Department and the Unified Operations Center, referring to the supervision of the installation of four monitoring buoys in Hamad Port and Ruwais Port, in order to collect data directly, which supports the continuous environmental monitoring of sea water and early warning.
There is also a project within the Ministry’s strategic plans that aims to expand this network to cover the entire water area of the country, HE added.
Source – QNA
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