Climate change: what it means for Qatar

Everyone knows that sustainability is something of a trend these days, and that a lot of large projects in Qatar have actually been internationally recognised for their achievements in this regard. 

Reports of the Gulf becoming impossible for humans to inhabit due to rises in temperature have also circulated, along with worries over sea levels rising and affecting local infrastructure.

Cyclones, which have never before been recorded in the warm shallow waters of the Arabian Gulf, might be generated by the change in ocean and air temperatures as the earth warms, according to a study in the journal of Nature Climate Change.

Yet among all the harbingers of gloom and doom, Qatar is striving towards a more sustainable future. Granted, recycling is still barely a thing, but in certain areas like Qatar Foundation’s Education City, the drive to recycle is present with the correct facilities in place. You need to start somewhere.

And although some recycled plastic is not going to save the world or halt global climate change, other initiatives like greening the desert, and even the Kahrama Energy Awareness Park demonstrate Qatar’s willingness to move forward towards a greener future.

While heavily criticised for its reliance on fossil fuels, Qatar’s push towards a knowledge-based economy that is no longer dependent upon them must also be noted. Qatar Petroleum has increasingly moved towards LNG and the production of clean-burning natural gas, which emits 50% less carbon dioxide than coal and 20-30% less than oil.

There is still lots more work to be done, but the initiative exists, and awareness is growing.

 Photo Credit: greenplanet.com