Fighting climate change – The Peninsula

Fighting climate change – The Peninsula

Sustainable development and combating climate change are among the top priorities of Qatar. The country is a signatory of many international charters and conventions on climate and environment protection. It was one of the first nations to ratify the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1996.

In September 2021, Qatar’s Council of Ministers approved the National Climate Change Plan, a strategic framework reflecting Qatar’s long-term sustainability goals and need to respond effectively to the climate crisis. An integral part of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the plan sets out Qatar’s commitment to tackle climate change by diversifying the economy, building capabilities, and optimising the use of natural resources. It establishes national climate targets to enhance climate resilience through more than 35 measures and over 300 adaptation initiatives focused on mitigation.

One of the initiatives is adopting alternative sources of clean energy. QatarEnergy has planned to build two solar power plants with the capacity of 5 gigawatts electricity in Mesaieed and Ras Laffan. Qatar seeks energy transition to achieve sustainable economic growth and reduction in carbon emissions.

QatarEnergy’s sustainability strategy includes capturing over 11 million tonnes of CO2 per annum in Qatar