In the first interview given to the local media, the Minister for Environment and Climate Change HE. Sheikh Dr Faleh Bin Ahmed al-Thani, in conversation with Abdullah Ghanem al-Binali al-Mohannadi Editor-in-Chief at Arrayah.
He the Minister has answered questions about a wide range topics, including:
When will the conflict of interests between the Ministries of Environment, and the Municipality be resolved
How will the ministry deal “dust “… and what will happen to the crushers? (operating in stone quarries)
How about extending camping hours throughout the year? Or reducing fees?
What have Qatar’s efforts been to combat climate change?
When will the land trespassing era end?
What is the future strategy for wastewater and waste recycling?
Is the current environmental law sufficient for deterring violators?
What have the air quality monitoring stations for sea water and seawater done?
When will nature reserve doors be opened to the public again?
Is the ministry able to raise awareness about environmental risks?
Excerpts of the interview:
Minister of Environment and Climate Change, HE Sheikh Dr Faleh Bin Nasser bin Ahmad al-Thani has stated that the creation of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is a strategic step. This confirms the continued interest and support that His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani gives to the cause of the climate and environment, and gives momentum to the State’s efforts to address climate change.
| The ministry is currently working on the organization structure of the ministry. It also plans to create specialized departments that will play a crucial role in the success and sustainability of development projects. They will achieve the ministry’s goals in preserving the environment, promoting green growth, and limiting the phenomenon of climate change. The ministry will add new departments, including the sector for nature reserves and wildlife protection. There is also a proposal to create a sector to combat climate change. |
Noting that the ministry works in coordination with the authorities in the country in order to develop the organisational structure and create specialized departments that will play an essential role in the success for sustainable development projects. They will achieve the ministry’s goals in preserving the environment, promoting green growth, and limiting the phenomenon of climate change. It will be implemented through Qatar’s National Action Plan for Climate Change 2030. It will represent the State’s environmental goals and aspirations.
This is in addition to the completion of other sectoral strategies the Ministry is currently working to implement such as the National Biodiversity Strategy (2015)-2025 and the Programmes in the National Action Plan to Combat Desertification (2015)-2024.
Protecting the ozone layer, restoring the biodiversity, protecting wildlife and marine life, combating the deterioration caused by various activities, combating desertification, and enhancing Qatar’s participation in international agreements related the environment and climate change.
HE said that the ministry’s current situation calls for the addition of new sectors, including those of nature reserves and wildlife protection.
Despite the existence within the current structure of a department for wildlife protection, its efforts were confined to protecting existing wildlife.
There are no special projects that can multiply, develop, or diversify them.
He also stated that one of the proposed solutions is to separate land and marine control, and establish an independent administration for each.
Another proposal is to create a sector for climate changes with the goal of achieving sustainable development that does no harm to the environment. This includes maintaining the sustainability and availability of energy, water, and other resources.
We are currently working on legislation that will provide incentives to encourage members of the community to conserve natural resources.
He said that the ministry had completed the draft update to the environmental law and its implementation regulations.
It is currently being reviewed by the competent authorities.
Concerning the project to monitor nature reserves with cameras to monitor violation, he stated that there is a plan for security surveillance cameras to be installed in some fenced nature reserve to protect them from encroachments.
To test them, to ensure their tolerance to outside conditions and their efficiency for monitoring, and if the experiment proves successful, the next phase of the project will begin and the cameras will then be installed in the targeted reserves.
The ministry will continue to use the best practices and the latest technologies to increase the efficiency of inspections and control and to reduce abuses on the environment.
The country’s environmental monitoring patrols, which are located in various parts of the country, work round the clock to protect its meadows, reserves, and coasts from any environmental abuses or encroachments.
I appeal to all residents and citizens to join me in reporting any environmental violation by calling the call center at 184.
The Ministry has the authority to set the environmental requirements of each project in relation to major projects, infrastructure projects, and industrial projects.
The project’s operation is monitored by the specialized inspectors.
The Ministry is currently implementing a project to operate and install a laboratory information management software system.
What is the purpose?
The Laboratory Information Management System (LIS) is one of the tools that improves performance in environmental labs according to international standards.
It is a type programme that aims to increase productivity and efficiency in the laboratory.
You can document data and laboratory analysis results in one database.
This allows for the tracking and analysis of data related to samples and experiments as well as the progress of laboratory operations.
It is important to control the quality of the materials used in it.
What is the explanation for this phenomenon? How large is it and how can it be prevented?
Fish deaths could be caused by one of the natural phenomena that occur in the Arabian Gulf, such red tides. These tides are caused by an increase in nutrients or phytoplankton within the marine environment.
The extent of fish deaths is dependent on the phenomenon’s spatial-temporal dimension.
Noting that the Gulf countries coordinate their efforts to monitor and track the development of this phenomenon.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change periodically takes samples of marine water to analyze and monitor concentrations of nutrients and phytoplankton.
Monitoring the ratios of organic to inorganic chemical variables is also important.
He said that the ministry works every year to facilitate camping in terms of registration and procedures.
We look forward during the next season to add services to meet the camps’ needs, which will be announced in due course.
He stated that camping is not possible all year round. A committee oversees this and decides if it should be extended.
He stated that the camping fees are fairly reasonable and not excessively expensive when compared to the state’s charges to provide many services for the camps.
Concerning complaints about dust and disturbance from crushers in certain areas, he confirmed there is a plan for 4 logistic areas to host activities related to the collection, recycling, and excavation of construction waste, gravel, and sand.
He answered a question about the high price of ordinary sand, even though it is available in large quantities in Sealine or Al-Naqian. He said that sand was the cheapest commodity in Qatar. Its price per cubic meter is QR4, while a full load of sand may cost less than 100 riyals.
Its low price makes it attractive to some companies, who use it in areas like landfill. Therefore, we will, in cooperation with Ministry of Municipality, review the issue of Sand. We plan to either raise its price or establish specific procedures for its usage.
He said that the Ministries of Municipality and Environment have overlapping competences. Work is ongoing in coordination with the Ministry of Municipality in order to complete the separation process in a manner that serves both the interests of the parties and ensures the flow of work.
To oversee the separation process, special committees were formed by both ministries.
The committees have made significant progress in the separation process, which is expected to be completed in a short time.
He stressed that the World Cup stadiums have air quality monitoring stations and are part of an expansion of the country’s air quality monitoring network.
The ministry has contracted with a specialized firm to install, operate, and equip these stations in time for the 2022 World Cup matches.
They will include 8 major stadiums and training fields. The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy collaborated with them in selecting and preparing station sites that meet the highest international standards.
The first air quality monitoring station located near Qatar University’s training grounds has been operationalized.
It has the latest international technologies and has been connected to the national network for air quality monitoring.
Also, Al Janoub Stadium received a station.
It is being activated now in preparation for its operation.
Al Thumama Stadium is currently undergoing construction of a second station.
His Excellency the minister concluded by answering a question on greenhouse gases and said: “The State of Qatar is aware of the urgent need to address this phenomenon and reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, or what is known as the greenhouse gases.
Last year was a foundation for Qatar to move forward in its handling of this issue.
As the National Strategy for Environment and Climate Change was launched, which was developed around the axis of reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the five priority areas of the strategy, in addition to our submission of Qatar’s nationally determined contributions plan to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which reflects the level of ambition that Qatar plans to achieve in addressing the phenomenon of climate change, besides the country’s declaration of its commitment to reduce carbon emissions in the country by 25% by 2030, to make Qatar a pioneer in this field.”
Last updated: February 5, 2022, 11:30 PM
