Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar University (QU) concluded a landmark seminar titled ‘Qatari-Korean Seminar on Climate Change Counteraction and Carbon Reduction’, marking a significant step forward in global efforts to tackle climate change and enhance carbon reduction strategies. The event was co-organised by QU, Korean Embassy in Qatar, Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), Strategy Hub, Global Carbon Council (GCC) and Kahramaa.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador of Korea to Qatar HE Yun Hyunsoo emphasised the urgent need for global collaboration in combating climate change. He said, “Today, we have gathered experts from both countries to discuss carbon reduction cooperation. I believe they are the most effective partners for capturing CO2 and disposing of it in an environmentally sound manner, and they possess state-of-the-art technologies for monitoring carbon reductions or sinks, including MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) systems. I hope that today’s seminar will serve as the first step in a series of arrangements to explore collaboration and identify the right partners to work together.”
This was followed by a welcoming speech from Prof. Ahmad Al-Own, dean of Graduate Studies at QU, which set an optimistic tone for the symposium proceedings. He remarked, “In this symposium, we are discussing innovative initiatives and bilateral strategies that leverage the strengths of both countries, develop optimal solutions, and identify actionable initiatives that reflect the joint efforts of our nations towards achieving the sustainable development goals.”
The symposium comprised several sessions. Prof Dong Suk Han, Invited Lecturer at QU, led the first session and Dr Yousef Al-Horr, Chair of the Global Carbon Council (GCC), who provided a comprehensive vision on collaborative solutions to address climate change and the importance of successful bilateral cooperation.
In the second session, Sheikha Amna Mohammed Suhaim Al-Thani, the founder and CEO of Strategy Hub, and Kyoung Jang from KOTRA, discussed the environmental governance policies of Qatar and Korea’s strategic approaches to implementing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21). “The private sector has a pivotal role in driving innovative climate solutions. By fostering partnerships and advancing sustainable initiatives, businesses can be at the forefront of meaningful climate action,” said Sheikha Amna.
The third session of the seminar highlighted the critical areas of cooperation between Qatar and Korea. Dr Kishor Rajhansa and Dongmin Park highlighted the role of the GCC in creating interoperable national registry systems and Korea’s strategy on Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS). In the same session, Eng Manal Al-Shafi from Kahramaa presented on the Qatar National Renewable Energy Strategy (QNRES), focusing on increasing the country’s renewable energy output. Dr Sue Kyoung Lee, CEO of CYCLOPS MRV Inc., discussed the advancements in carbon reduction and removal through nature-based solutions, emphasising the importance of innovative MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification) technologies.
The seminar concluded with remarks from Prof Mohammad Irshidat, director of the Centre for Advanced Materials at QU, who reiterated the commitment to ongoing collaboration between Qatar and Korea. “This seminar has not only strengthened our cooperative ties but also set a dynamic agenda for our future endeavours in renewable energy technologies and nature-based solutions,” Prof Irshidat stated.
Hyuna Kim, director-general of KOTRA-Qatar, expressed her gratitude for the fruitful discussions and the comprehensive exchange of ideas. The seminar has laid the groundwork for continued international cooperation, aiming to foster sustainable solutions to one of the most pressing issues of our time.
