What should Qatar do?
- Increase efforts in economic diversification away from fossil fuel extraction and develop low carbon sectors Communicate the BAU range of the NDC targets
- Clarify the contribution of exported gas to Qatar’s local GHG emissions
- Clarify Qatar’s role as an international actor in the fight for global diversification away from fossil fuel
- Transform Qatar’s energy mix through more ambitious targets for renewables despite lower incentive to do so because of low oil prices and strengthen implementation
- Optimize cooling and district cooling through a green building code and building retrofits as well as using recycled water for district cooling instead of desalinated water.
What you need to know about Qatar?
- In its updated NDC (August 2021) Qatar says it intends to reduce 25% of its GHG emissions by the year 2030, relative to baseline scenario Qatar has opened long-delayed two 200MW solar tenders.
- Qatar currently has a stated goal of installing 10 gigawatts (GW) of solar power capacity by 2030 Qatar Solar Energy (QSE) has officially opened one of the largest vertically integrated PV module production facilities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
- The 300 MW facility, located in the Doha industrial zone, is the first significant development of the Qatar National Vision 2030 Qatar is investing in research and development of new technologies, including the usage of renewable energy to power desalination plants
- As Qatar struggles in diversifying its economy away from fossil fuel extraction, its objective is to make greener its extractive activities, not decrease its extraction rates (ex:
- The national oil company, Qatar Petroleum (QP), is committed to zero routine flaring by 2030, with a long-term goal to reduce flaring in onshore facilities to the absolute minimum)
- Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) : Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Subaie, Minister of Municipality and Environment was the Group Chief Executive Officer of Barwa, Qatar’s leading Real Estate Development and Investment holding Group from April 2011 until May 2014
- Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (The road to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 one step at a time): responsible for the delivery of the required infrastructure and host country planning and operations for Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar Foundation plays an instrumental role in Qatar’s sustainability efforts as it helps transform the country into a knowledge-based economy. It also endeavors to realize this vision by making sustainability an integral part of the day-to-day lives of local residents.
- Qatar Foundation, in partnership with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), is setting up a pioneering Climate Change Research Institute and a Global Climate Change Forum as part of MoU signed on sidelines of COP 18 UNFCC Doha conference in 2012
- The Qatar Green Building Council, a QF member was established in 2009 to promote sustainable growth and development in Qatar through cost efficient and environment-friendly building practices.
- 2022 World Cup poses significant challenges like maintaining thermal comfort conditions within the football arenas with respect to the heat stress index (HSI) and the aero-thermal comfort thresholds established for opened stadiums.
- Cooling strategies under the hot-humid climate of Qatar could jeopardize the carbon neutrality of the event.
Recent developments, threats and levers for action
Recent developments
- Qatar is a small country vulnerable to climate change (temperature rise, sea level, water scarcity) with vast reserves of natural gas
- Qatar holds 858 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven gas reserves as of 2017, ranking 3rd in the world and accounting for about 12% of the world’s total natural gas reserves
- Because of its gas reserves, and because it offered the West its services to alleviate the energy crisis, Qatar was called a major ally of the United States, a non-member of NATO, in early March.
- Germany, which is seeking to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, has pledged to accelerate the construction of two LNG terminals as part of a long-term energy agreement with Qatar.
- The deal was struck during a visit to Doha by German Economy Minister Robert Habeck as Berlin began moves to diversify Germany’s energy supply. FIFA 2022 World Cup can be an opportunity to highlight the country’s actions and challenges
About Climate Diplomacy Snapshots
The data is clear. Accelerated and enhanced action is needed now to build resilience and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. As they seek to address the ongoing health, economic and social impacts of COVID-19, governments should seize opportunities to invest in a recovery that will build social, economic and climate resilience on the long-term.The Climate Diplomacy Snapshots aim to provide the climate community with a clear overview of what each country should do, on climate and recovery, to pursue these joint objectives and keep the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C. Each has been prepared with the help of national experts, and will be regularly updated. The snapshots aim to support climate advocacy in the lead up to COP27.
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