Kelsey Callahan, Senior Director of Projects and Energy, recently spent Labor Day weekend in Doha, to meet and engage firsthand with government officials and grassroots organizers at the forefront of sustainable climate and energy technology.
As a Gulf Cooperation Council state, Qatar is particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. It is because of this awareness of the immediate consequences of climate change that Qatar is dedicating resources to confront it.
The newly established Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) headed by Minister Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed Al Thani) is dedicated to addressing matters of environmental concern, ensuring that sustainable and climate-conscious practices are adopted throughout all sectors of Qatar. In addition, the ministry also oversees the optimal implementation of the National Environment and Climate Change Strategy (QNE).
Recently we saw the kick off of the MOECC and the Green Growth Institutes Cooperation Program on Climate Resilience and Green Growth ahead of COP27.
The dedication to sustainable environmental and climate is supported through full government investment in emerging companies and research hubs that ensure constant innovation and development in areas of environmental preservation, sustainability and technology.
The Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) conducts and coordinates long-term and multidisciplinary research that addresses critical national priorities related to water security, energy and the environment. As a part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), the goal of QEERI is to become the leading national research, development and innovation (RDI) institution in Qatar and beyond, in water, energy and the environment in arid regions.
On the ground, the Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar (AYCMQ) is building a grassroots movement to foster understanding of natural ecosystems, empower and inspire the community to take effective action in resolving the current ecological crisis, and advocate for evidence-based policies to adapt, mitigate, conserve and protect the ecosystem.
Registered in May 2019, AYCMQ is the first independent, youth lead environmental organization in the region focused on creating a more inclusive climate conversation and encourage citizens and policymakers to take necessary interventions to protect the environment for future generations.
AYCMQ continues to create a network of dedicated environmentalists in Qatar and across the region to spread awareness of both climate and environmental issues. We are proud that a representative of the Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy was able to see firsthand all the important work being done by these organizations.
