Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser Al Thani meeting with Minister of Environment of Brazil H E Joaquim Leite on the sidelines of the United Nations Ocean Conference, in Lisbon.
Lisbon: Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser Al Thani has said that Qatar has made a holistic approach to preserve the environment and ensure sustainability.
“Within the framework of its keenness to preserve the environment in general and the marine environment in particular, Qatar has also adopted a strategic approach to reach integration between the environment and social and economic governance, through the implementation of Qatar National Vision 2030 strategy and the National Biodiversity Plan 2015-25,” said the Minister.
He was addressing United Nations Ocean Conference, which is currently being held in Lisbon, Portugal, until July 1. Qatar’s delegation in the conference is headed by Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser Al Thani.
The Minister stressed that the conference provides a highly significant opportunity to mobilize international efforts to consult and exchange views, ideas, and viewpoints, to find effective practical solutions, take the right decisions and achieve the aspirations of all to preserve the oceans as one of the important water resources.
He said that the oceans cover more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface as their importance lies in being an essential source of food, alternative energy generation, and desalination projects.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change noted that Qatar paid great attention to sea resources and natural reserves.
He said that the State has managed and protected the sea environment, and the consequent legislative and monitoring measures to ensure its preservation and sustainability, as well as its contribution, within the framework of its keenness to play its role as an active partner with the international community, with an amount of $100m to support small island developing states and least developed countries to deal with climate, natural hazards and environmental challenges and capacity building to face its devastating effects.
The Minister noted that the State also contributed $2m to address the threat posed by the floating oil tanker ‘Safer’ off the Yemeni coast, to prevent an oil leak and avoid an environmental disaster.
He said Qatar has prepared the Qatar National Action Plan for the conservation and management of sea resources, the preparation of a benthic habitat map of Qatar’s coastal zone, in addition to preparing integrated management plans and implementing a draft decision banning the use of single-use plastic bags and replacing them with multi-use plastic bags and biodegradable plastic bags.
