Qatar Calls on Political Will in Facing Climate Change

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HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani

The State of Qatar stressed the urgent need to mobilize efforts, take urgent measures, and show more political will to confront the challenges posed by climate change and natural disasters, which pose a threat to international peace and security and are an obstacle to achieving sustainable development goals.

This came in the statement of the State of Qatar made by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, during the UN Security Council’s open debate on climate and security.

The statement discussed the number of measures taken by the State of Qatar at the national level to confront the threat posed by climate change, stressing that the State of Qatar has never failed to play its role as an active partner in the international community in addressing the effects of climate change, based on its belief in the importance of multilateral international action.

The State of Qatar’s statement said that the year 2012 represented an important milestone for the country’s leading role in this framework, through its hosting and active participation in the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 18).

The statement also said that in the context of the unique vulnerability of small island developing states and least developed countries in facing the challenges associated with climate change, HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani announced Qatar’s contribution of $100 million for the support of small developing island states and the least developed states, during the Climate Action Summit in 2019. The statement also highlighted the efforts undertaken by Qatar Fund for Development to mobilize support to confront climate change and promote green growth in these countries, stressing the State of Qatar’s commitment to cooperate with its strategic partners to help these countries develop flexible strategies and programs to deal with climate change. It also drew attention to what the State of Qatar has done in reporting its nationally determined contributions, which give a clear and transparent picture of the approach and actions taken, and reflect the level of ambition that the State of Qatar seeks to achieve regarding the issue of adaptation to climate change and mitigate its effects.

The statement expressed Qatar’s pride at hosting the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, from Jan. 23-27 of 2022, which will result in the Doha Work Program. The statement stressed that climate change will undoubtedly be one of the most prominent issues raised, and will occupy a prominent place in the conference, expressing the State of Qatar’s aspiration that this conference will provide a vital opportunity to shed light on innovative plans and solutions to combat climate change.

Concluding, the State of Qatar reiterated its commitment to continue work with all its partners to face the threat of climate change and ensure international peace and security.