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Qatar

Climate change poses biggest risk: Al Rumaihi

Published: 19 Nov 2017 - 09:08 am | Last Updated: 16 Nov 2021 - 12:32 am
Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi, addressing the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in Bonn.

Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi, addressing the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in Bonn.

QNA

Bonn: Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi said that challenges and risks facing the world due to the phenomenon of climate change are among the biggest challenges, given their economic, environmental and social dimensions, and their serious repercussions particularly in the developing countries.

Addressing the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which concluded in Bonn, the Minister stressed that there are still a lot of work and effort required by States parties to achieve the objectives and principles of the Convention, and what falls under it.

Al Rumaihi highlighted the joint desire of the participants to make tangible progress in meeting the pre-2020 commitments by providing the necessary support to the developing countries in capacity building, financing, development and transfer of technology. He also stressed that everyone believes that adaptation is the key to achieving sustainable development, as it automatically reduces emissions of greenhouse gases.

He added that adherence to the principles of equity, shared responsibility but differing burdens and the provision of support from developed countries to developing countries in a transparent and balanced manner, is the best way towards safety.

The Minister highlighted Qatar National Vision 2030, announced by Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, which emphasises that environmental and economic development are fundamental objectives that can not be sacrificed at the expense of each other, noting that the State have completed projects for recycling and utilisation of household waste and waste of construction and industry, sewage treatment by 100%, rationalising energy consumption, solar producing energy, reducing flame gas, introducing modern techniques on natural gas power plants, and stopping burning oil and fossil material.

In October, the State of Qatar signed the establishment of the Global Dryland Alliance, which started as an initiative of the State, the Minister said, indicating that its main objectives are to maintain food security.

Meanwhile, Al Rumaihi praised Qatar’s important role in the negotiations process that contributed to reaching the Paris Agreement. Doha hosted the COP18 in 2012 and welcomed the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macaron to the summit meeting on 12/12/2017.

The Minister expressed his deep gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Fiji for its great and distinguished efforts in organising the Conference, thanked the Federal Republic of Germany for its efforts in convening the Conference, and congratulated the Kingdom of Morocco on its success in organizing its previous session.

Al Rumaihi led Qatar’s delegation to the conference which discussed several issues related to climate change, the most important of which are how to implement the Paris Agreement, issues related to the mitigation of emissions and adaptation to the effects of climate change and on financing, technology development and transfer and capacity building.