Environmental sustainability is at the centre of Qatar’s development policy even as the country promotes green solutions in its development efforts worldwide. Qatar National Vision 2030 also prioritises preservation of environment and nature as the country continues its economic, societal and social progress.
The country is also hosting Expo 2023 Doha, which is the first A1 International Horticultural Exhibition in Qatar, the Middle East, and North Africa. Since its opening in October 2023, the six-month-long event has set new records of successful initiatives for the environmental education and awareness. This week, the expo set a new Guinness World Record by creating the longest sentence made from 40,000 bottles to raise awareness of recycling and environmental preservation. The organisers, in collaboration with Mazzraty, used the inscription “Qatar’s finest”. The activity aimed to raise awareness of the importance of recycling plastics and reducing the use of single-use plastic products. It also highlighted Qatar’s achievements to this end.
The State of Qatar has made significant progress towards reducing plastic pollution by abolishing the use of single-use plastic bags and other such initiatives. The country has used technological advancements for recycling waste water and using it for irrigation, leading to a significant increase in number of green spaces and plantations across Qatar in recent years.
At the same time, the state is moving towards green energy by massively increasing the use of solar energy and promoting use of electric vehicles. Another successful initiative has been the conversion of Qatar’s public transportation system to electric. A significant percentage of public transport buses has already been converted to electric, even as the government aims to achieve 100 percent conversion of its bus fleet to electric by 2030. The Ministry of Transport also aims to have at least 35 percent of its vehicles running on electricity by 2030. The electric bus fleet initiative has been remarkably successful with electric bus charging stations springing up across Qatar over past few years. Lusail bus depot, inaugurated in October 2022, created the Guinness world record for being the largest electric bus depot.
Under Qatar National Vision 2030, the country aims to achieve a balance between developmental needs and the protection of its natural environment, whether land, sea or air. The QNV 2030 includes an emphasis on establishing an effective legal framework and the environmental institutions that can serve as the guardians of Qatar’s environmental heritage. The QNV 2030 also emphasises raising awareness to protect the country’s environment for the nation’s future generations.
