DOHA, QATAR – October 06, 2024

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Qatar Office hosted a visioning and planning workshop to advance the development of Qatar’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP). This workshop brought together over 150 representatives from government, the private sector, academia, and civil society to shape and guide Qatar’s NAP development process.

Qatar faces pressing challenges from climate change, including rising sea levels, water scarcity, extreme heat, and severe events. These issues pose significant threats to key sectors such as energy, water, infrastructure and coastal area, public health, agriculture and livestock, and biodiversity. To address these vulnerabilities, the NAP will integrate climate adaptation strategies into Qatar’s national development plans and support the country’s transition to a sustainable, climate resilient economy.

Engineer Ahmed Mohammed Al-Sada, Assistant Undersecretary for Climate Change Affairs, emphasized that “Despite the ongoing efforts to adapt to climate change, there is an urgent need to take urgent action to enhance adaptive capacity and reduce vulnerability to these climate risks, especially in key sectors such as water management, infrastructure, coastal areas, healthcare, biodiversity and food security,” he said. In this context, referring to the efforts made by the Ministry in developing the Qatar National Adaptation Plan (NAP), Eng. Al-Sada added, “We hope that this workshop will achieve its desired goals and be an opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices in the project of developing the Qatar National Adaptation Plan (NAP).”

Mr. Chiden Balmes, Program Lead of GGGI Qatar Office, highlighted the significance of this project, noting, “GGGI is a trusted partner of Qatar in developing the country’s National Adaptation Plan. This will be a landmark policy – the first of its kind in Qatar – that will identify the country’s medium- and long-term priorities to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and potentially transform these threats into opportunities for further growth and resilience.”

The workshop presented key findings from previous climate vulnerability and impact assessments and enabled participants to share additional information on adaptation activities from their respective sectors. Interactive visioning exercises, along with detailed explanations of the NAP process, helped participants understand their roles in shaping Qatar’s adaptation priorities and sharing critical data to inform the plan’s development.

About the Climate Adaptation Planning Project and NAP:

The Climate Adaptation Planning Project in Qatar, part of the MECC-GGGI Cooperation Program on Climate Action and Green Growth, addresses the country’s vulnerability to climate change impacts. By focusing on the most vulnerable sectors, the project aims to safeguard the nation’s economy, population, and coastal areas from climate-related threats. Developing the NAP for the State of Qatar will enable the country to identify and address its medium and long-term priorities for adapting to climate change as part of Qatar’s broader development strategy and green economy transition.