DOHA: The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, in cooperation with the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST), organised an environmental symposium under the theme ‘Restoring the ozone layer and reducing climate change’ on the occasion of World Ozone Day.
The symposium addressed risks threatening the ozone layer and its impact on the environment and climate change such as global warming which causes many crises and natural disasters. It also highlighted the efforts of the State of Qatar in preserving the ozone layer and its commitment to implementing the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer and the Vienna Convention on protecting the ozone layer.
In his speech during the symposium, Assistant Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Abdulhadi Nasser Al Marri stressed that World Ozone Day represents an important opportunity to unite joint efforts to deal with the issue of protecting the ozone layer, one of the most complex environmental challenges, noting the need for the international community to come together to confront this challenge.
He said this occasion aims to educate people about the importance of preserving the ozone layer, introduce the substances that deplete it, and call for the necessity of reducing the use of substances that lead to its damage.
The Assistant Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs pointed out that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has launched a plan to gradually get rid of these materials, as well as keep up with the most important developments related to the mechanism of control and regulation of these materials and their alternatives.
For his part, Vice President for Academic Affairs at UDST Dr Rachid Benlamri stressed that science-based decisions and actions are among the most important factors contributing to resolving major crises, and an example of this is the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol, which contributed to reducing the use of substances that deplete the ozone layer. He pointed out that UNDST is working hard to achieve sustainability and activate green research and initiatives as well as promote environmental culture among students and educational staff.
He noted that this environmental symposium constitutes an important addition in the quest for developing a generation with greater awareness and knowledge of global challenges, adding that this generation will be able to preserve this planet and the requirements of a sustainable economy in accordance with the Qatar National Vision 2030.
Regional coordinator of the Montreal Protocol in West Asia, the United Nations Environment Program, Eng. Khaled Al Kalali praised the efforts of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in fulfilling the requirements of the Montreal Protocol and achieving the goals set for the gradual elimination of restricted substances and the organization of needed workshops to raise awareness and build capacity to enforce leading legislation approved by the state.
He affirmed the importance of continuing to build on the great benefits that have already been achieved for both the ozone layer and the climate under the Montreal Protocol by gradually eliminating substances that deplete the layer and striving to achieve the goals of the Kigali Amendment to gradually reduce the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons. He noted that World Ozone Day represents an important opportunity to highlight successes and new developments of the Protocol and to increase public support and key stakeholder groups for the State of Qatar's national compliance strategy.
Head of the hazardous materials department and ozone officer at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Mona Al Emadi reviewed the ministry's project to phase out "HCFCs" materials by adopting the Minister of Environment and Climate Change's resolution No. 20 of 2022 regulating the mechanism for importing hydrochlorofluorocarbons materials and determining the total annual quantity allowed to be imported to the State of Qatar, according to the regulatory limits of the Montreal Protocol and the requirements binding on the state, indicating that importing companies adhere to the quotas granted to them for importing.
During the symposium, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change launched a competition for university and school students to encourage them to participate in awareness programs. In addition, the Ministry honoured the entities participating in the symposium and the companies cooperating with the ozone team.
