Qatar has taken many significant steps in enriching biodiversity demonstrating that the country attaches great importance to the protection and preservation of biological diversity. An estimated 7.6 billion people live on the planet and it could swell to 9.9 billion by 2050, according to the report of the Population Reference Bureau. It grows at an alarming rate. To the woes, the existing natural resources are not sufficient enough to feed them.
Reading the above lines will make one understand how important is to live sustainably. Sustainable living and development are not possible by a population which is uneducated and this is the sole reason why there is a growing international recognition for ‘Education for Sustainable Development’ (ESD). ESD is developed by the United Nations and it calls for change in the way people think and motivates them to work towards a sustainable future.
Qatar is always at the forefront with world nations for addressing any challenge and it contributes significantly for coming up with a solution. Qatar’s contribution for sustainable development is also noteworthy as it emphasises the need for education to be interconnected with every aspect of sustainable development.
Recently, the Vice-Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation (QF), H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, outlined, at the UN High-Level Political Forum, how fostering human development through education is at the core of Qatar’s vision for a sustainable future and nationwide efforts to realise this vision.
Qatar’s support for the cause reflects its commitment to inclusive education, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to drive positive social change, and nurturing a new generation of leaders and role models who have integral roles in Qatar’s development journey.
Going by the words of H E Sheikha Hind, education has to evolve in line with individual and societal needs, reflect a world where disruption is a way of life, and retain its fundamental principles while not reducing its scope to try new things.
H E Sheikha Hind explained how QF’s unique model of quality, inclusive education interconnects with all sectors in Qatar, enabling young people to see and follow a direct pathway into fields from which they can contribute to the nation’s sustainable development vision while also achieving their personal goals.
It aims to improve access to quality education on sustainable development at all levels to transform societies. It calls for reorientation of education and also by helping people to develop the required knowledge, skills, values, behaviors for sustainable development.
Qatar has got a clear vision on sustainable development, which is backed by sheer determination and arrant willpower. The model which Qatar showcased to the world for sustainable development is really a ray of hope for the world plagued by population rise and natural resources’ depletion.
