A few months ago, Qatar Energy announced it is joining a new industry-led initiative to reduce nearly all methane emissions from operations by 2030. This comes as part of a larger global drive to tackle emissions from methane, or natural gas, which is the second most polluting climate-changing gas after carbon dioxide, and much more potent than CO2.
Last year, Qatar launched a national climate change action plan aimed at achieving a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 -- announced by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
On the other hand, Qatar has also committed to several plantation initiatives coupled with a comprehensive climate action plan, which will help the country reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Among Qatar’s many environmental initiatives is the campaign to plant 10 million trees by 2030.
Net zero emission means that all man-made greenhouse gas emissions must be removed from the atmosphere through reduction measures, thus reducing the Earth’s net climate balance, after removal via natural and artificial sink, to zero. Yesterday, while addressing the Qatar National Dialogue on Climate Change 2022, hosted by Qatar Foundation’s Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, H E Sheikh Dr Faleh Bin Nasser Bin Ahmad Bin Ali Al Thani, Minister of Environment and Climate Change emphasises the importance that Qatar places on tackling climate change.
“Protecting the environment and supporting sustainable development has always been a top priority for Qatar. As one of the first countries to ratify the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1996, Qatar has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to addressing global environmental challenges,” he stated. He added that, the country’s commitments to combat climate change on a local and global scale, the National Climate Change Action Plan and Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy have been launched.
Qatar prioritises supports measures to address the impact of climate change. Technological advancements, green financing and investments and of course driving net-zero targets are part of Qatar’s efforts towards this goal.
Qatar is the world’s largest producer of liquefied natural gas and aims to expand LNG production to 127 million tons annually by 2027. Qatar has also stressed that its gas production helps combat climate change globally because it can help the world shift from high-polluting fuels like oil and coal to renewable energies. Qatar is reportedly spending almost $30 billion to boost its LNG production capacity by around 50% in the next six years.
