What may we learn from Qatar’s policy focus on sustainability via its National Vision 2030?
“Qatar is at the forefront of what I call climate-change diplomacy…”
Qatar is known for its oil and gas exploration and adventures which have made it the richest state in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region. It is a small state in terms of size and population but has a wide footprint across the globe in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. However, the nation strives to mitigate the impact of its emission activities via a comprehensive national plan that it established in 2008 but designed to last till 2030; this national plan, amidst other things, focuses on developing sustainable technologies, funding institutions dedicated to the protection of the environment, funding climate conferences dedicated to reducing global warming, and consolidating loose structures of its environmental policy frameworks. The passion is amazing to see but how far have these actions helped in protecting the environmental integrity of the nation and the rest of the Arabian Peninsula? And what may others learn from their policies?
Is their focus on sustainability truly impressive? An award-winning Professor of Law and UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at the College of Law, Hamad bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar, Professor Damilola Olawuyi (SAN, FCIArb) believes in the ongoing reform project in Qatar. Speaking to The Habibat Project, Professor Olawuyi, who doubles as the Deputy Vice Chancellor at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, believes that the Qatari approach is a sustainable one, and that the nation’s ongoing transition to tourism from an oil-dependent economy is excellent for the MENA region. He opines that their approach is the way forward for other states intending to transit and diversify in a way that prioritizes technology, adequate water management, policy, and the sustainability of the environment.
(This interview has been edited for length and clarity).
Qatar and other MENA nations are trying to transition their economies from being oil-dependent to significantly including tourism and other sectors. However, tourism puts pressure on resources, particularly water resources. What kinds of frameworks and policies are in place in Qatar to protect water resources, given that it is situated in an arid region?
You're right. Water scarcity is a big issue in the region, because it's an arid region characterized by dry lands, right? When you are in the desert region, you must be very innovative in water generation as well as water management. What Qatar and the rest have done is to promote the use of water technologies. There's a lot of investment in water technologies, water desalination technologies specifically. It's a technology through which you can indeed take out the salt from seawater and make it useful, and most of the water used in the region, even in Qatar is from desalination plants. It's a two-pronged approach, investment in water desalination technology to generate water, as well as then making regulations to ensure water conservation and management. They've taken that integrated approach for water conservation; they have the water efficiency data sheet — it is called [the] Tarsheed water efficiency program, in which there is a clear stipulation on how much water you can use; there is a clear stipulation on the need for facilities and businesses to have water conservation plans. So the combination of both has really made the country advance this issue of water sustainability, especially advancing SDG 6 [Clean water and sanitation]. Water governance is definitely at the forefront [of the Qatari approach] — promoting water technologies, ensuring water efficiency, water conservation, and promoting training.
Let’s delve into the grand vision. What exactly does Qatar’s National Vision portend for the environmental condition of the country and the Arab Peninsula?
Qatar, as you know, is a major producer of natural gas, as well as some oil. In many of the petroleum rich states, for many years, their economies had been closely tied to oil and gas extraction. So, now the National Vision 2030 is a clear document that tries to say, okay, how we use our natural resources to transition towards a more diversified, knowledge based technology-driven society. Qatar has made a lot of progress in implementing that vision — the environment pillar [of the plan] talks a lot about awareness. And now in Qatar, there are a lot of universities focusing on environmental awareness [and] environmental causes. As you may know, I established the Association of Environmental Law Lecturers in the MENA region, which has also supported that vision in providing consistent training and capacity development on environmental issues, as the national mission specifically says the country hopes to develop an environmentally-aware population that understands environmental and habitat protection. We also have the environmental law in Qatar that specifically mandates all education providers to include environmental courses. That's in the law. So you will see that the environmental awareness is at an all time high in Qatar.
That's great, but there are other frameworks including the National Environmental Climate Strategy, the National Climate Change Action Plan, and even the National Development Strategy. How do they all key into this national vision?
Yes, as you will realize, the national vision is an umbrella document that has that general national vision — [embodying] the number of instruments [climate agendas] that have been released. Qatar now has more than ninety laws and regulations on the environment. And those regulations and laws sort of specify the exact goal that must be met. The Government of Qatar adopted the climate change strategy, which now includes having the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. Before it used to be the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, so the environment was just an appendage at the time. But now, there is a clear Ministry of Environment and Climate Change with a mandate to address [the] issues of climate change. It shows the country's ambition to be at the forefront of climate solutions. Even in that Climate Change Strategy, they talked about the desire to achieve net-zero carbon emission. So I think the national vision has provided “the umbrella [document],” while these new strategies are now going into the specific granular details.
Qatar was a signatory to the 2016 Paris financing agreement, and COP29 will be held in November in Baku, Azerbaijan. So in what ways do you think Qatar can improve upon its existing climate financing commitments, especially to the developing states within the MENA sphere?
It's a good question, and one of the key things at the COP28 in the UAE was the emphasis on solidarity, right? The need for international solidarity to move climate action forward. And solidarity simply means [that], well-off countries, countries that have the technology, resources, and the money should provide support to developing countries; the MENA region is a mix of very rich countries, but there are some countries, like you mentioned, that will require a lot of help. So, Qatar, through its development fund and its overseas programs, have been at the forefront of providing support for other countries, both in terms of financial support and technology. I've realized that Qatar is aligning diplomacy with climate change. Qatar is at the forefront of what I call climate-change diplomacy, which aims to use diplomacy and international development & support to advance climate-change ambitions across the region.
Qatar has also been involved in a lot of legal prosecution of violators of the integrity of the environment. What exactly do you think other countries can learn from the Qatari legal framework, and how can they implement it in their own countries as well?
I think some of the things that have worked well for Qatar include, one, having a very clear and committed environmental legislation that covers a wide range of use[s]. I am aware that “Law Number 30,” as it's called, as well as the executive bylaws, are very comprehensive, and I'm aware that the country is in the process of updating them. So, one thing that Qatar has been able to do is to continue to update its laws in line with modern realities.
Secondly, you would say, “how is the country able to still continue oil and gas [exploration] without having as many environmental problems?” That's also because the national energy company there, called Qatar Energy, has their own very stringent health, safety and environment regulations that make it unprofitable for any business to want to pollute, because if you do it and they cancel your license, you're gone. I think that [the] idea of a national oil company having a very stringent set of regulations on health, safety, and environment has really really worked well for Qatar.
The third lesson one can draw from Qatar’s approach is that strong international engagement. In international law, you don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate. So you have to be at the forefront, as a country, in terms of climate diplomacy and international negotiation. Because if you're not, then you will get international deals that will weaken your own economy; that could make it even difficult for you to protect the environment. So I think [that] Qatar has realized it and is playing a very big role in the international diplomacy environment — that active engagement. For example, Qatar organized the climate COP[18], thereby showing the interest that they have in being at the forefront of these issues.
The relationship between the Arabian authorities’ and their local communities, I would say, has been grossly underreported. Some of the locals in the oil-exploring MENA states may have been affected by activities that are related to oil drilling and exploration. How has Qatar been able to ensure environmental justice, proving that it is not just a situation where they're making money off them, but also giving them something in return?
The approach taken by Qatar is one promoting the fair and equitable distribution of the benefits of oil and gas production. They are ensuring that no one is left behind [by] promoting public participation — that is the approach [being] taken. Most people now channel their [environmental] concerns through the Shura Council, made up of elected individuals. It's a small country, so some of the issues of indigenous rights that you might see in other countries don't manifest in the same manner in Qatar. Rather, [the] environmental justice that we emphasize over there is more about ensuring that the benefits of oil and gas and other development projects are maximized to continue on the path of sustainable development. And I hope they [the Qatari authorities] can maintain and sustain this — using their resources for the benefit of the current generation, as well as for the protection of future generations. We've seen in the region, free education for their citizens and support for those that want to go into eco-entrepreneurship. Those are policies and future-generation programs that are quite commendable.
Congratulations on receiving the Weeramantry International Justice award. It's a testament to your hard work and dedication to sustainability over the years. How exactly do you feel about being a recipient of this award?
It is indeed a truly special moment to be found worthy of such important recognition. The award is named in honor of the legacy of Judge Weeramantry, one of the leading lights in environmental law, [whom] as well as becoming a judge, was a vice president of the ICJ. So to receive an award, named after such an iconic figure is a special moment. And, as a student, I read closely, some of the leading judgments and pronouncements of Judge Weeramantry, especially cases like Gabčíkovo, which indeed shaped the idea of what states should do to protect the environment. So, I'm honored to receive the award, and I think it would only motivate me to do more for sustainable development, world peace, and environmental justice.
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