The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) in collaboration with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) recently hosted a workshop in Doha, Qatar to discuss the development of Qatar’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP). The workshop, attended by high-ranking officials including Undersecretary of MECC H E Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Mahmoud, brought together over 150 participants from various sectors in the country such as public and private sectors, academia, and civil society. Qatar is faced with significant challenges related to climate change, including rising sea levels, water scarcity, extreme heat, and severe weather events. These issues pose threats to key sectors such as energy, water, infrastructure, coastal resilience, public health, agriculture, livestock, and biodiversity. The National Adaptation Plan aims to integrate medium- and long-term climate adaptation strategies into Qatar’s national development plans to support the country’s transition to a greener and more sustainable economy.
Assistant Undersecretary for Climate Change Affairs Eng Ahmed Mohammed Al Sada highlighted the urgent need for swift action to enhance resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate risks, particularly in key sectors such as water management, infrastructure, coastal areas, healthcare, biodiversity, and food security. He emphasized the ministry’s efforts in developing the National Adaptation Plan for Qatar and expressed hope that the workshop would provide an opportunity to exchange expertise and best practices in the project of developing the plan. Acting Head of the GGGI office in Qatar Chiden Balmes underscored the importance of the project, stating that the NAP will outline medium- and long-term adaptation priorities to address the negative impacts of climate change, transforming threats into opportunities for sustainable growth and prosperity. The workshop provided key findings from previous climate vulnerability assessments and guided participants on how to contribute additional information to inform the plan’s development through interactive visualization exercises and detailed explanations of the NAP process.
The National Adaptation Planning and Action Project is part of a collaborative program between the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the GGGI focused on climate action and green growth. This project aims to protect Qatar from the impacts of climate change by addressing plans and strategies to safeguard the country’s economy, population, and coastal areas. By focusing on the most vulnerable sectors to climate change, the project contributes to Qatar’s transition to a green and sustainable economy. The development of the National Adaptation Plan will identify and address the country’s medium- and long-term adaptation priorities as part of broader national development strategies. The NAP will play a crucial role in shaping Qatar’s adaptation priorities and guiding the country towards a more resilient and sustainable future.
