QNA
Doha
The air quality in Qatar is excellent and all air-quality monitoring stations across the country show that pollution levels are lower than normal or within the normal limits, Minister of Environment and Climate Change HE Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser bin Ali Al Thani has said.
In an exclusive statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on Wednesday on the sidelines of the inauguration of the environmental data monitoring and analysis unit in Qatar, the minister explained that dust in the air is not a major concern, because it is not considered an industrial pollutant, but rather a natural pollutant that exists in varying rates in all countries of the world. He stressed that the Ministry is working to reduce this ratio and improve air quality even more.
HE Sheikh Dr Faleh added that the air quality monitoring unit in Qatar consists of 40 fixed and mobile stations spread across the country, and that stations belonging to other entities such as QatarEnergy, the Meteorology Department, Ashghal, the Ministry of Public Health and others will be linked to them later, so that information is transferred between these entities easily to monitor and analyze the observed data.
The minister added that the ministry has installed a station in the vicinity of each of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venues to monitor air quality in stadiums and crowded areas.
The air quality stations are located on a distance of 5 square kilometres, and they analyze data, track the source of pollution and notify the authorities concerned to take the necessary action, the minister added.
Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Abdulhadi Almarri said that the environmental data monitoring and analysis unit aims to protect Qatari environment by monitoring pollution.
He noted that the environment sector launched many initiatives and events to achieve the national development’s goals and strategy of Qatar related to the field of sustainability, and to educate the community about the importance of protecting the environment and its resources and sustainability according to the approved strategies.
Director of the Department of Monitoring and Environmental Laboratory in the Ministry Eng. Hassan Al Qassimi said that the launch of the environmental data monitoring and analysis unit in the State of Qatar will help in obtaining high-accuracy data on air quality and identifying the sources of pollutants and their impact.
Head of Air Quality Department Ali Al Khulaifi said that there are numerous sources for the environmental data monitoring and analysis unit, including air quality monitoring stations located around the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums, air quality monitoring stations distributed throughout the country, roadside stations, mobile stations and the meteorological network, as well as data from various external stations in the country and satellite images.
The environmental data monitoring and analysis unit aims to improve monitoring of ambient air quality data in Qatar and to monitor and analyze environmental data, through fixed and mobile stations distributed across the country that operate continuously and in real time to maintain air quality at the highest standards.
