Doha, The Qatar Sustainability Week (QSW) 2023 has been launched by Earthna Center and continues until Nov. 11 with the participation of more than 250 entities and partners in the country organizing more than 400 activities and initiatives, in addition to seminars, conferences, and technical events around the topics of water, energy, electric vehicles, green buildings, and sustainable management of facilities.
The week, whose activities began yesterday in a number of regions of the country, aims to involve community members in a wide range of activities that support sustainability, encourage them to adopt a sustainable lifestyle, and increase environmental awareness among all its members, in addition to highlighting the progress made by the country in the field of sustainability. QSW promotes cooperation and knowledge exchange between various sectors that contribute to achieving sustainable development goals in accordance with Qatar National Vision 2030.
During a press conference held today on this occasion, Assistant Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) Eng. Ahmed Mohammed Al Sada stressed that QSW is of special importance this year as it coincides with Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha, which is held for the first time in the MENA region under the theme “Green Desert… Better Environment” to promote innovation in the field of sustainability and combat desertification, a goal that is consistent with many initiatives, activities, and events that will be held during the QSW and is consistent with the MoECC’s efforts aimed at achieving the goals of the environmental development pillar stipulated in the Qatar National Vision 2030.
Eng. Ahmed Al Sada added that the State of Qatar realizes that combating climate change, supporting sustainability, and preserving the environment requires innovative solutions. Therefore, Qatar invests in the latest technologies, renewable energy resources, and sustainable infrastructure, and supports a culture of innovation to unleash human capabilities, but technology remains part of the solution and not the whole solution, as there is another aspect that is no less important, which is spreading environmental awareness in society, out of the belief that addressing the problem of climate change is not the responsibility of specific individuals or entities, but rather a collective responsibility that falls on all of the community and this reflects the importance of QSW.
The Assistant Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs described QSW as the largest annual national campaign to support the environment in the State of Qatar. It is an open invitation to all government and private institutions and agencies in the country to organize a wide range of activities and events at the state level to build a sound understanding of environmental challenges and how to overcome them. It is also an open invitation to all members of society, regardless of their groups and ages, to participate in the campaign’s activities to enhance their environmental awareness and sense of responsibility toward the environment, and to realize the size of the impact that their environmental contributions make. Thus, this inspiring event unites society with its various sectors, individuals, and groups on one goal, which is environmental preservation.
In turn, Executive Director of Earthna Dr. Gonzalo Castro de la Mata indicated that this is the second time that the center has led QSW and that over the past two years, it has found increasing interest not only in QSW as an initiative, but in all aspects of sustainability, stressing that this reflects Qatar’s commitment to promoting and protecting the environment while promoting sustainable development as stipulated in the Qatar National Vision 2030.
He pointed out that there are more than 400 registered events and initiatives that will be organized this year by more than 250 entities and partners, covering a variety of activities, and that among the topics related to sustainability this year, for example, are beach cleaning, public seminars, mangrove planting, school lectures, various recycling campaigns, and artistic events.
Dr. Gonzalo Castro de la Mata noted that this annual event represents a national campaign of great importance for advocacy, awareness, and enhancing the spirit of cooperation and partnership between the private and governmental sectors and society in all its categories, especially since sustainability, at its core, is related to people, and this is the reason for the importance of QSW.
He called on all members of society to participate in building an understanding of sustainability challenges, developing solutions and inspiring actions, and participating in activities, learning, discussions, and ideas, as sustainability is a collaborative effort and participation is crucial. (MORE)
Source: Qatar News Agency