Qatar yesterday announced its commitment to planting one million trees before the historic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

The announcement came in a speech delivered by His Excellency Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs Eng. Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi at the Middle East Green Initiative Summit in Riyadh.

HE the Minister highlighted his country’s pledge to planting one million trees prior to the World Cup as well as to planting 10 million trees by 2030.

HE the Minister began his speech by thanking and appreciating  HRH Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for his invitation to participate in this summit.

Qatar announced its commitment to planting one million trees before FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which will be first carbon-neutral tournament, and to planting 10 million trees by 2030, in framework of its support to Middle East Green Initiative, launched by Saudi Arabia. #QNA pic.twitter.com/3vdivyJmo4

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) October 25, 2021

"We praise the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and its keenness on launching the Middle East Green Initiative which we aspire to be a great leap in the joint environmental action at the global level,” HE Al Kaabi said.

He added that the effects of climate change cast a shadow on various forms and areas of life in the world today, stressing that the summit recognizes the significance of collective action to tackle the challenges arising from this phenomenon.

The Middle East Green Initiative Summit presents an important platform for coordinating regional and international efforts to meet different environmental goals, HE the Minister said adding that enriching biodiversity in the Middle East is among the topmost of these.

This is made possible through intensifying, protecting and preserving vegetation, and combating desertification, in a way that contributes to the development of many ecosystems and combating climate change, he noted.

In this context, HE Al Kaabi mentioned that Qatar has made environmental development and its protection an essential pillar of its National Vision 2030.

This year, Qatar submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change an update of its nationally determined contributions, in line with the pioneering and ambitious role that the State seeks to achieve in dealing with climate change and promoting sustainable development.

Qatar, based on its commitment to international cooperation to confront common challenges and in view of the catastrophic effects of climate change, has prepared a comprehensive national plan for climate change 2030 that includes more than 35 initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and more than 300 initiatives for adaptation, HE the Minister highlighted.

The plan covers all areas including energy, water, transportation, construction, industry, agriculture, education and scientific research.

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Cover Image Credit: Reuters

Source: QNA