Qatar determined to advance environmental and human development

Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030 embraces the ideals of sustainable environmental and human development.

"Qatar is committed to protecting and conserving the environment without harming its competitiveness. This path means that Qatar will need to invest more in research and new technologies that promote sustainable development," said Dr. Ibrahim Ibrahim, the Secretary General of the General Secretariat for Development Planning (GSDP).

Qatar's environmental challenges, including climate change issues, and goals were discussed by some two hundred national participants and experts in a seminar organized by the GSDP.

The panel discussions highlighted the pressures that rapid development, natural resource exploitation and population growth put on water security, marine biodiversity and the natural and built-up environment. According to the experts sustainable development depends on successfully managing and integrating environmental, economic, human and social goals.

"Qatar should play a proactive role in assessing environmental challenges in the region. Qatar's Vision entitles us to coordinate all efforts to tackle different kinds of environmental issues that may arise from climate change to the marine environment," added Dr Ibrahim.

The seminar identified and discussed environmental issues in the spheres of sustainable development, water security and human development, marine biodiversity and climate change that will be addressed in Qatar's first National Strategy. The National Strategy will provide a path that will help to achieve the goals of Qatar's National Vision.

The seminar provided fresh ideas for Qatar's second Human Development Report that the GSDP is preparing in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).