Qatar to Host 18th Climate Change Conference

HE the Minister of Environment told the Conference that the efforts of the State of Qatar are not limited to the field of adaptation to effect of climate change on the local environment, but rather exceed them to the activation of the solidarity and joint action efforts as worldwide responsibility in the face of the consequences of this phenomenon, such as fight against hunger and poverty eradication, which were confirmed by HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani during the World Summit on Food Security, held in Rome in 2009. He pointed out that Qatar applies its vision in this this area through the establishment of regional and international partnerships so as to ensure the development of new mechanisms, able to cope with natural phenomena resulting from climate change. HE the Minister of Environment explained in his speech before the conference that alleviating the effects of climate change helps to enable millions of poor in the planet to have access to modern services in the fields of energy, transfer of technology and provide financial support mechanisms for developing countries to enable them move towards a development based on emissions reduction. He said adaptation to climate change should involve rendering people secured so that social and economic development could be achieved in face of challenges resulting from climate change including lack of food security, health and safety, noting that such significant elements could only be secured through capacity building of people and enhancement of the basic requirements necessary for their protection against disasters and adverse climate conditions and establishing the necessary systems to face their repercussions. The Kyodo protocol, which currently covers only 25 percent of global emissions, will expire in December 2012. Under the Kyoto Protocol, which was agreed upon in 1997, entered into force in 2005 and compel most of the developed countries to set maximum limits for thermal emissions.