Environment ministry highlights Qatar's steady progress on comprehensive climate adaptation plan

Qatar Tribune

4 days ago

DOHA: Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change HE Eng Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud has affirmed that the State of Qatar is moving steadily towards the development and implementation of a comprehensive National Adaptation Plan (NAP) which aims to enhance the country's readiness to confront growing climate challenges and to mitigate their impacts across various vital sectors.
This came during his opening remarks at a workshop titled 'The Future of Climate Change in Qatar: Assessing Measures and Setting Priorities'.The workshop was attended by representatives from government entities, the private sector, academic institutions and international organizations, and local and international experts.
He explained that climate change is no longer merely an environmental issue, but has become an economic and developmental challenge impacting strategic sectors such as water and food security, public health, infrastructure, and biodiversity.
The workshop represents a pivotal milestone in the development of the National Adaptation Plan, which is based on a scientific approach and a strategic vision that relies on long-term climate impact assessments and aligns with Qatar's national sustainable development strategies and priorities, he added.
The adaptation plan, he noted, is consistent with the country's commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), particularly regarding the Global Goal on Adaptation outlined in the Paris Agreement. He emphasized that the plan also contributes to enhancing transparency and reporting through national reports submitted to the UN Secretary-General's office on climate change.
He pointed out that the proposed measures within this plan have been developed through active participation from various stakeholders, including government institutions, the private sector, academic institutions, and international organizationsâ€'reflecting a comprehensive and participatory approach to shaping climate adaptation policy in Qatar.
Eng Al Mahmoud concluded his remarks by stressing that the success of the National Adaptation Plan relies on continued cooperation and coordination among all relevant parties, and on adopting practical and scientifically grounded actions. He called on participants to share their opinions and expertise in support of implementing the priority measures to be adopted at the end of the workshop.
The workshop featured a detailed presentation on the criteria selection process used to classify adaptation measures. This was followed by a sectoral vote, where attendees were divided into six groups representing key sectors: agriculture and livestock, water, energy, industries and infrastructure, coastal resilience and biodiversity, and public health. Each group identified top priority adaptation measures within their sector based on the approved criteria.
Additionally, the 'World Cafe'method was adopted to facilitate cross-sector discussions, culminating in a consolidated list of Qatar's climate adaptation priorities. Participants used 'Mentimeter'to contribute to the final prioritization process.