To protect environment for future generations by adopting sustainable practices in national development has been the guiding principle for authorities in Qatar. Qatar in recent years has taken many important steps and launched numerous initiatives to promote sustainability to address the global challenge of climate change.
Qatar’s National Environment and Climate Change Strategy (QNE) also provides a robust policy framework to safeguard Qatar’s environment for future generations.
Under a similar move, use of single-use plastic bags in Qatar will be banned from November 15 onwards, the Ministry of Municipality has announced. Based on the recent approval by the Cabinet, Ministry of Municipality said that institutions, companies, and shopping centres are prohibited from using single-use plastic bags in packaging, presenting, circulating, carrying, or transporting products and merchandise of all kinds from November 15, 2022, and replace them with multi-use plastic bags, biodegradable bags, bags made of paper or “woven” cloth and other biodegradable materials, which conforms to the approved standard specifications.
The decision stipulated that “the plastic bags, according to their category, shall be printed with a symbol indicating that they are degradable, reusable or recyclable.”
The Ministry of Municipality will continue to coordinate and cooperate with the various concerned authorities in the country, including government agencies, institutions, companies and factories. The Ministry will also work, through the Public Relations Department, to launch a wide awareness campaign to educate the public about the harms of single-use bags, and the importance of using multi-use, biodegradable, paper and cloth bags.
FIFA World Cup organisers are also encouraging people and businesses to ditch single-use plastics. The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), in collaboration with Seven Clean Seas, recently organised the ‘One Tide Week’ campaign to encourage action against plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. The campaign aimed to remove single-use plastics and promote the use of reusable items, including cups, containers and cutlery. Under National Environment and Climate Change Strategy, which was launched in October last year, Qatar plans to ensure sustainable and integrated management of all water resources. The country will reduce groundwater extraction by 60%, reduce daily household water consumption by a third and double desalination via reverse osmosis or more sustainable technologies.
Qatar will also enhance critical infrastructure for sustainable waste management and drive more circular use of materials. To do so, Qatar seeks to close and rehabilitate 100% of unsanitary landfills and achieve a 15% material recycling rate of municipal wastes amongst other targets.
