QNA
Doha
The country achieved many goals during 2021 in food security strategy, as the local production of vegetables jumped from about 66,000 tonnes to about 103,000 tonnes. This is a self-sufficiency rate of 41 percent. The target self-sufficiency rate in 2023 is 70 percent of local vegetables. The self-sufficiency rate of local dates has also increased to 86 percent now, and it is expected that the percentage will reach 95 percent by 2023.
The volume of production of dairy and its products maintained the same levels in 2020, as the State of Qatar achieved complete self-sufficiency, by more than 106 percent, with a production volume of 230,000 tonnes, in addition to achieving self-sufficiency in the consumption of fresh poultry, as the volume of production reached 28,000 tonnes and the percentage of self-sufficiency to 124 percent.
As for red meat, the volume of production increased to 12,500 tonnes, achieving a self-sufficiency rate of 24 percent compared to about 8,000 tonnes and a self-sufficiency rate 16 percent in 2018. The volume of local production of table eggs increased to 11,000 tonnes, achieving a self-sufficiency rate of 35 percent, compared to about 6,000 tonnes and a self-sufficiency rate 20 percent in 2018. It is expected that the self-sufficiency rate of table eggs will reach 70 percent by 2023.
The volume of fresh fish production has maintained the same levels during 2019 and 2020 due to the stabilization of the local catch to preserve the fish stock in Qatar. It is expected that the self-sufficiency rate of local fresh fish will reach 90 percent by 2023, through the contribution of fish farming projects in the country that increases the local production of fresh fish.
In the same context, the state, under contracts with the private sector, was able to raise the reserve stock of strategic commodities, the most important of which are wheat, rice, edible oils, sugar, frozen red meat, long-term milk and powdered milk, which contributed to overcoming all the challenges imposed by the pandemic and affected supply chains.
Environment and climate change
In the field of environment and climate change, Qatar has achieved remarkable accomplishments at national, regional and international levels, in addition to setting future plans for further accomplishments in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. Qatar pays great attention on the issue of environment, as it has established its Ministry of Environment about 20 years ago, and recently created the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, with duties that include limiting emissions that cause climate change. This confirms the continuous interest and unlimited support given by the wise leadership to the issue of environment and climate, which is of great importance on the international agenda, because of its severe impact on planed Earth.
Qatar had an active participation in the 26th session of the conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), in the Scottish city of Glasgow, during which it reviewed its plans to combat climate change and its ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as Qatar has also hosted the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP18).
In October of 2021, the State of Qatar developed the Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy (QNE), which aimed to protect and enhance Qatar’s environment and ensure the long-term resilience of the economy.
Alongside the National Action Plan for Climate Change 2030, the Strategy contributes to balancing the urgent need to act in the field of climate change with environmental protection, as well as the need to promote sustainable social and economic development in an economy based mainly on the export of liquefied natural gas and related products.
QNE has identified five key environmental priority areas: GHG emissions, air quality, biodiversity, water and circular economy, and waste management and land use, with the establishment of a governance system to implement the strategy, in order to achieve its goals by 2030, reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent, establish 30 air quality monitoring stations by 2023 and increase the number of biodiversity reserves.
This strategy comes along with Qatar’s accomplished projects related to monitoring and environmental labs, as well as preparing, implementing and approving monitoring plans and programs for air, water and soil to measure and control the rates and percentages of different pollutants in nature, establish, operate and follow-up networks and continuous monitoring systems for monitoring stations for air, noise and marine environment water quality, and environmental awareness.
Air quality
In this regard, the competent authorities have begun implementing a comprehensive plan to monitor the air quality around stadiums and training venues for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, in cooperation with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, in selecting the locations in accordance with the highest international standards, such as the completion of an air quality monitoring station near the training grounds at Qatar University, equipped with the best international technologies, which have been linked to the national air quality monitoring network in the country. The plan also included the completion of the installation of two air quality monitoring stations at Al Janoub International Stadium in Al Wakra and Al Thumama International Stadium, as well as linking them to the national air quality monitoring network in the country.
The significant accomplishments also included the biodiversity database project in the State of Qatar, the project of restoring and rehabilitating the Qatari land, the project of monitoring and protecting sea turtle populations, the national strategy and action plan to combat desertification, and the strategy for preserving wildlife in the country. The accomplishments also included the implementation of a national plan to inventory mercury quantities, in addition to updating the early warning network for radiological monitoring on all the coasts of the country, as well as a modern network that will be implemented soon to cover all areas.
At the regional level, the State of Qatar implemented many environmental projects and initiatives to limit the effects of climate change, including the initiative to plant one million trees, which has achieved the planting of more than half a million trees so far, while the remaining number will be planted before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
In the same context - and in order to achieve its long-term environmental goals, the State of Qatar has set an integrated group of fixed goals, the most important of which are those related to renewable energy to generate 200 megawatts of solar energy to reduce emissions and push investments towards cleaner options, while seeking to occupy high ranks in the public transport sector and the use of environmental-friendly cars.
Greener public transport
Among the ambitions plans in this regard is that the percentage of environmentally friendly public transport will reach between 20 to 25 percent before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, as all of these projects are added to other big projects in the public transport sector that operate with clean energy, such as the Doha Metro, the tram network, and energy-efficient buses, which will lead to reducing emissions from operations during the tournament.
The public transport network has witnessed a quantum leap in recent years, and one of the most important events that Doha will witness at the beginning of 2022 is the trial operation of the first phase of Lusail Tram, starting from Saturday, Jan. 1.
Hamad Port witnessed many internal and external achievements during the year 2021, as the first and second phases of the project to develop the second container terminal in the port were completed, the initial operation of which began in December 2020, provided that the full operation of the two phases will be completed before the end of 2022. The third and fourth phases of the terminal will also be developed later to increase the port’s capacity in accordance with the requirements of the local market.
The volume of operations at Hamad Port witnessed an increase of 14 percent, from 1,136,450 in 2020 to 1,291,235 in 2021.
Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) continues to work on implementing its plans and reaching its goals, as the most prominent of which was winning the membership of the Executive Council of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization, signing the comprehensive air transport agreement with the EU, updating the terms of several air services agreements, and signing new memoranda and agreements with other countries, which enhances the national carrier’s network, given that it is the fastest growing airline in the world.
As 2022 approaches, the State of Qatar looks forward to continuing the momentum of achievements, implementing big projects in various sectors, facing various challenges with a deliberate approach, and overcoming and investing them for further achievement, in continuation of achieving its goal of building a modern country with a sustainable economy, as well as providing the highest standards of welfare for its citizens and residents, to prove its worthiness of winning international acknowledgements to the world.
Doha
The country achieved many goals during 2021 in food security strategy, as the local production of vegetables jumped from about 66,000 tonnes to about 103,000 tonnes. This is a self-sufficiency rate of 41 percent. The target self-sufficiency rate in 2023 is 70 percent of local vegetables. The self-sufficiency rate of local dates has also increased to 86 percent now, and it is expected that the percentage will reach 95 percent by 2023.
The volume of production of dairy and its products maintained the same levels in 2020, as the State of Qatar achieved complete self-sufficiency, by more than 106 percent, with a production volume of 230,000 tonnes, in addition to achieving self-sufficiency in the consumption of fresh poultry, as the volume of production reached 28,000 tonnes and the percentage of self-sufficiency to 124 percent.
As for red meat, the volume of production increased to 12,500 tonnes, achieving a self-sufficiency rate of 24 percent compared to about 8,000 tonnes and a self-sufficiency rate 16 percent in 2018. The volume of local production of table eggs increased to 11,000 tonnes, achieving a self-sufficiency rate of 35 percent, compared to about 6,000 tonnes and a self-sufficiency rate 20 percent in 2018. It is expected that the self-sufficiency rate of table eggs will reach 70 percent by 2023.
The volume of fresh fish production has maintained the same levels during 2019 and 2020 due to the stabilization of the local catch to preserve the fish stock in Qatar. It is expected that the self-sufficiency rate of local fresh fish will reach 90 percent by 2023, through the contribution of fish farming projects in the country that increases the local production of fresh fish.
In the same context, the state, under contracts with the private sector, was able to raise the reserve stock of strategic commodities, the most important of which are wheat, rice, edible oils, sugar, frozen red meat, long-term milk and powdered milk, which contributed to overcoming all the challenges imposed by the pandemic and affected supply chains.
Environment and climate change
In the field of environment and climate change, Qatar has achieved remarkable accomplishments at national, regional and international levels, in addition to setting future plans for further accomplishments in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. Qatar pays great attention on the issue of environment, as it has established its Ministry of Environment about 20 years ago, and recently created the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, with duties that include limiting emissions that cause climate change. This confirms the continuous interest and unlimited support given by the wise leadership to the issue of environment and climate, which is of great importance on the international agenda, because of its severe impact on planed Earth.
Qatar had an active participation in the 26th session of the conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), in the Scottish city of Glasgow, during which it reviewed its plans to combat climate change and its ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as Qatar has also hosted the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP18).
In October of 2021, the State of Qatar developed the Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy (QNE), which aimed to protect and enhance Qatar’s environment and ensure the long-term resilience of the economy.
Alongside the National Action Plan for Climate Change 2030, the Strategy contributes to balancing the urgent need to act in the field of climate change with environmental protection, as well as the need to promote sustainable social and economic development in an economy based mainly on the export of liquefied natural gas and related products.
QNE has identified five key environmental priority areas: GHG emissions, air quality, biodiversity, water and circular economy, and waste management and land use, with the establishment of a governance system to implement the strategy, in order to achieve its goals by 2030, reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent, establish 30 air quality monitoring stations by 2023 and increase the number of biodiversity reserves.
This strategy comes along with Qatar’s accomplished projects related to monitoring and environmental labs, as well as preparing, implementing and approving monitoring plans and programs for air, water and soil to measure and control the rates and percentages of different pollutants in nature, establish, operate and follow-up networks and continuous monitoring systems for monitoring stations for air, noise and marine environment water quality, and environmental awareness.
Air quality
In this regard, the competent authorities have begun implementing a comprehensive plan to monitor the air quality around stadiums and training venues for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, in cooperation with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, in selecting the locations in accordance with the highest international standards, such as the completion of an air quality monitoring station near the training grounds at Qatar University, equipped with the best international technologies, which have been linked to the national air quality monitoring network in the country. The plan also included the completion of the installation of two air quality monitoring stations at Al Janoub International Stadium in Al Wakra and Al Thumama International Stadium, as well as linking them to the national air quality monitoring network in the country.
The significant accomplishments also included the biodiversity database project in the State of Qatar, the project of restoring and rehabilitating the Qatari land, the project of monitoring and protecting sea turtle populations, the national strategy and action plan to combat desertification, and the strategy for preserving wildlife in the country. The accomplishments also included the implementation of a national plan to inventory mercury quantities, in addition to updating the early warning network for radiological monitoring on all the coasts of the country, as well as a modern network that will be implemented soon to cover all areas.
At the regional level, the State of Qatar implemented many environmental projects and initiatives to limit the effects of climate change, including the initiative to plant one million trees, which has achieved the planting of more than half a million trees so far, while the remaining number will be planted before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
In the same context - and in order to achieve its long-term environmental goals, the State of Qatar has set an integrated group of fixed goals, the most important of which are those related to renewable energy to generate 200 megawatts of solar energy to reduce emissions and push investments towards cleaner options, while seeking to occupy high ranks in the public transport sector and the use of environmental-friendly cars.
Greener public transport
Among the ambitions plans in this regard is that the percentage of environmentally friendly public transport will reach between 20 to 25 percent before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, as all of these projects are added to other big projects in the public transport sector that operate with clean energy, such as the Doha Metro, the tram network, and energy-efficient buses, which will lead to reducing emissions from operations during the tournament.
The public transport network has witnessed a quantum leap in recent years, and one of the most important events that Doha will witness at the beginning of 2022 is the trial operation of the first phase of Lusail Tram, starting from Saturday, Jan. 1.
Hamad Port witnessed many internal and external achievements during the year 2021, as the first and second phases of the project to develop the second container terminal in the port were completed, the initial operation of which began in December 2020, provided that the full operation of the two phases will be completed before the end of 2022. The third and fourth phases of the terminal will also be developed later to increase the port’s capacity in accordance with the requirements of the local market.
The volume of operations at Hamad Port witnessed an increase of 14 percent, from 1,136,450 in 2020 to 1,291,235 in 2021.
Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) continues to work on implementing its plans and reaching its goals, as the most prominent of which was winning the membership of the Executive Council of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization, signing the comprehensive air transport agreement with the EU, updating the terms of several air services agreements, and signing new memoranda and agreements with other countries, which enhances the national carrier’s network, given that it is the fastest growing airline in the world.
As 2022 approaches, the State of Qatar looks forward to continuing the momentum of achievements, implementing big projects in various sectors, facing various challenges with a deliberate approach, and overcoming and investing them for further achievement, in continuation of achieving its goal of building a modern country with a sustainable economy, as well as providing the highest standards of welfare for its citizens and residents, to prove its worthiness of winning international acknowledgements to the world.