QNA
Doha
Minister of Environment and Climate Change HE Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie has said that the Qatar National Dialogue on Climate Change reflects the significance of solidarity and joint action to address the increasing challenges posed by climate change.
The minister was speaking at the opening of the fourth edition of the Qatar National Dialogue on Climate Change 2024 kicked off on Tuesday.
The two-day event is being held for the first time as part of Qatar Sustainability Week (QSW) at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC).
The dialogue’s first session was attended by Minister of Transport HE Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, Minister of Municipality HE Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah and a large number of specialists, academics, experts and those interested in environmental affairs.
Dr Subaie expressed pride in the successes achieved by the MoECC in Qatar, which will support the steady march toward achieving Qatar National Vision 2030 and has given special importance to climate change within its integrated framework that it has drawn up to achieve sustainable development in various aspects of economic, social, environmental and others.
He added that from this standpoint, they are gathered to discuss sustainable and practical solutions that will enable them to address those challenges effectively.
He added 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.
The minister indicated that the dialogue’s edition focuses on a number of 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 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.
He 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.
For his part, Chairman of Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah International Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah - through his participation via video conferencing - pointed out 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 added that the loss of biodiversity is accelerating with increasing disturbances to the ecosystem, rising temperatures and extreme weather leading to increased health risks. He noted 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.
Earthna Executive Director Dr Gonzalo Castro de la Mata expressed happiness at the opening of the 4th edition of the Qatar National Dialogue on Climate Change (QNDCC), noting 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.
Dr de la Mata said that climate change affects everyone, making it essential for all, be it individuals, companies, organisations, academic institutions and government entities to recognize their role in addressing this crisis and to collectively take decisive measures to ensure a sustainable future.
Ambassador of Germany to Qatar HE Lothar Freischlader expressed pride that his country is an official partner of the 4h edition of QNDCC, affirming that every step taken in the next six years will significantly impact the approach to addressing climate change challenges, adding that what is done today will have a profound effect on tomorrow.
He praised his country’s cooperation with the State of Qatar, which reflects both countries’ spirit of partnership to find solutions to this global phenomenon through developing policies and expanding diplomatic efforts.
