QF's Earthna Summit returns to Doha for Second Edition

Zawya

23-04-2025

Participants from over 100 countries attended the first day of the Summit to discuss sustainable solutions for arid and hot environments
Doha, Qatar: The Earthna Summit 2025 officially commenced today in Doha under the theme 'Building Our Legacy: Sustainability, Innovation and Traditional Knowledge', bringing together local and global leaders, experts, policymakers, and youth from more than 100 countries.
Organized by the Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), and in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Summit coinciding with International Earth Day in Msheireb, Doha.
Addressing the event, Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Subaie said that Earthna Summit provides an important strategic platform for enhancing dialogue and coordinating efforts to address the challenges of climate change, especially in countries with hot and arid climates, most notably the GCC states.
He noted the importance of dialogue and the exchange of visions based on traditional knowledge and diverse cultures in developing sustainable solutions that combine the past and the future and enhance international cooperation in addressing environmental challenges.
The opening session included the inaugural Earthna Prize ceremony, where four exceptional projects were honored for their outstanding environmental stewardship rooted in traditional knowledge.
The Earthna Summit opening ceremony also featured an inspiring keynote by Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who shared his vision for leveraging social innovation to drive sustainable development.
During the day's program, Justin Mundy, Chair of Earthna, emphasized the importance of uniting global voices to address shared sustainability challenges, particularly the urgent need to reimagine climate finance.
'This year's Earthna Summit comes at a critical time—midway between COP29 and COP30,' he said. 'It's more than a gathering; it's a catalyst for action. By bringing together knowledge holders, innovators, and decision-makers, we create a space where ideas converge and evolve into tangible solutions.'
Dr. Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, Executive Director of Earthna, echoed this sentiment, saying, 'Summit attendees are united by common challenges, shared aspirations, and a commitment to measurable impact. By providing a platform that encourages dialogue, we hope to build a legacy of sustainability for future generations to carry forward.'
The Summit also hosted the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism Conference, convening global experts to explore urban development rooted in traditional architecture.
Earthna Village: Celebrating Sustainability Rooted in Local Tradition
As the first day of the Earthna Summit came to a close, the heart of the gathering came to life with the opening of the Earthna Village. At its center, the Agora Sessions featured a dynamic lineup of speakers, including Dr. Damilola Olawuyi, UNESCO Chairholder and Professor of Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of QF; Hamza Yassin, wildlife cameraman and presenter; and Charlene Ruto, a passionate climate change activist with the SMACHS Foundation. These sessions fostered open dialogue on sustainable futures rooted in cultural context and lived experience.
Attendees also engaged in hands-on workshops and exhibits, exploring traditional water conservation, natural cooling techniques, and time-honored weaving and farming practices. The Earthna Village offered a space to discover how traditional knowledge can inform and inspire future solutions.
As Earthna Summit 2025 continues for a second day of dialogue, sessions, and keynotes, participants will explore deeper intersections of culture, climate, and innovation—building collective momentum toward a more sustainable future, rooted in both tradition and innovation.
Research and Reports Unveiled at the Earthna Summit 2025
The first day of the Earthna Summit featured the release of several key research and policy publications focused on sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Semiotics of Nature, jointly developed by Earthna and HBKU's College of Islamic Studies, explores the connections between nature, semiotics, and spirituality, promoting an environmental ethic rooted in both faith and science.
Towards the Development of a Sustainability Framework for Qatar, produced by Earthna, Wealth Fair Economics, and the University of Sussex Business School, introduces Inclusive Wealth as a foundation for balanced development.
Carbon Emissions Reduction Strategies for Qatar - A policy dossier co-authored by Earthna and the Middle East Council on Global Affairs examines carbon reduction strategies aligned with Qatar's National Vision 2030.
Earthna's brief 'Qatar's Ecology: An Assessment with Recommendations' assesses Qatar's ecological landscape and offers actionable recommendations for sustainability.
The Earthna report 'Traditional Knowledge in Water Resource Management' highlights traditional water management practices from Oman, Spain, Peru, and Ethiopia, underscoring their role in climate resilience and community-led conservation.
Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future
Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future (Earthna) is a non-profit policy, research, and advocacy organisation, established by Qatar Foundation (QF) to promote and enable a coordinated approach to environmental, social, and economic sustainability and prosperity.
Earthna is a facilitator of sustainability efforts and action in Qatar and other hot and arid countries, focusing on sustainability frameworks, circular economies, energy transition, climate change, biodiversity and ecosystems, cities and the built environment, and education, ethics, and faith. By bringing together technical experts, researchers, government and non-government organisations, businesses, civil society, and policy and decision-makers, Earthna fosters collaboration, innovation, and positive change.
Using their home Education City as a testbed, Earthna develops and trials sustainable solutions and evidence-based policies for Qatar and hot and arid regions. The organisation is committed to combining modern thinking with traditional knowledge, contributing to the well-being of society by creating a legacy of sustainability within a thriving natural environment.
For more information about Earthna please visit: earthna.qa
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Qatar Foundation – 30 Years of Unlocking Human Potential
Qatar Foundation (QF) is a non-profit organisation which, for 30 years, has supported the sustainable human, social, and economic development of Qatar through entities, programs, and initiatives focused on education, science and research, and community development.
QF was founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Amir of Qatar, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, who shared the vision of providing quality education for everyone in Qatar. In the three decades since, this vision has evolved into a globally unique, multidisciplinary ecosystem of knowledge – offering opportunities for lifelong learning, fostering innovation, and empowering people to be socially engaged citizens and drivers of positive change.
This diverse but interconnected ecosystem comprises a world-class education landscape spanning the full spectrum of learning from pre-school to post-doctoral level; research, innovation, and policy centres addressing some of the world's greatest challenges facing the world; alongside community facilities for people of all ages to seek knowledge, embrace active lifestyles, and expand their horizons within QF's Education City, spanning 12 square kilometres in Doha, Qatar.
With its efforts concentrated on generating impact in five key areas – progressive education, sustainability, Artificial Intelligence, precision health, and social progress – QF remains committed, as it has been for the past 30 years, to investing in Qatar and its people, and contributing to shaping a better world for all.
For a complete list of QF's initiatives and projects, please visit: www.qf.org.qa
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