Minister of Municipality HE Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaei has stressed Qatar's commitment through its 2030 national vision on striking a balance between the components of sustainable development, which include community development, economic development and environmental sustainability, in which all institutions and groups of society at the governmental and private levels participate.
The minister was speaking at the 24th Gulf Engineering Forum held in Doha.
The minister said of Qatar has developed many integrated plans and goals that it is working to implement in the field of environmental preservation and sustainable development.The most prominent of which are environmentally-friendly projects like World Cup 2022 stadiums, through the use of solar energy as well as energy and water-saving technologies, recycling of all waste generated during the World Cup period, by achieving a sorting and recycling rate of 100 percent, the first time a World Cup event has accomplished the feat.
He added that the ministry is working within its strategic plans to improve the standard of living and quality of life through urban development and optimal planning for modern cities, through the implementation of the comprehensive urban plan for Qatar, and the establishment of urban centers in municipalities.
He also said that the renaissance and sustainable urban development witnessed by Qatari cities in recent years led them to win the title of healthy cities from the World Health Organization. Qatar became the first country to have all its cities obtain this health accreditation.
Additionally, six cities also obtained membership in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, for its application of best practices in the areas of sustainability, and its efforts to educate various groups of society on the principles of sustainability.
The Ministry of Municipality, in cooperation and in partnership with various governmental and private agencies and civil society, has also completed the initiative to plant one million trees. The one millionth tree was planted on the final day of the World Cup, which coincided with the National Day of the State of Qatar on Dec. 18, 2022.
The minister also highlighted that Qatar is hosting the Doha 2023 Expo from October 2, 2023, to March 28, 2024.