ECONOMIC ISSUES

Driven by the development of the oil and gas sector, Qatar has made
remarkable economic achievements over the past few decades. However,
Qatar’s high dependence on fossil fuels has resulted in a rapid increase in
its CO2 emissions. As such, the country may be facing a trade-off between
achieving continued economic growth and carbon emissions reductions.

Qatar has undergone a very rapid economic development over the last few decades,
mainly driven by the exploitation of its vast hydrocarbon resources. According to the
World Bank, Qatar is currently one of the richest countries in terms of GDP per
capita, ranking among the top ten wealthy countries in the world. The country’s
economy is highly dependent on the oil and gas sector, which accounts for more than
50% of GDP, 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues (MOFA,
2021). This reflects in per capita carbon emissions that in 2020 carbon dioxide
emissions were among the highest in the world at 37 metric tons per person (the
world average is about 10 metric tons per person) (IMF 2015, BP statistics, 2021).

Qatar is a signatory to the Paris Agreement and in 2021 it has updated its Nationally
Determined Contribution to include for the first time a quantitative carbon emission
reduction target (State of Qatar, 2021). The State of Qatar has also recently
developed its first National Climate Change Action Plan and it is expected to be
increasing its carbon emissions reduction ambitions further in the future. Yet, the
question of how deep emission reductions can be achieved and the exent to which it
involves a tradeoff between environmental protection and economic growth

Qatar is a small country with wealth

based on fossil fuel.
One of the disadvantages of
obtaining fossil fuel from its
source and processing it is the
increase of the Carbon
dioxide concentration in the
atmosphere, and this bears
heavily on a small country’s
environment
Qatar is a small country with wealth
based on fossil fuel.
One of the disadvantages of
obtaining fossil fuel from its
source and processing it is the
increase of the Carbon
dioxide concentration in the
atmosphere, and this bears
heavily on a small country’s
environment
Qatar is a small country with wealth
based on fossil fuel.
One of the disadvantages of
obtaining fossil fuel from its
source and processing it is the
increase of the Carbon
dioxide concentration in the
atmosphere, and this bears
heavily on a small country’s
environment
Qatar is a small country with wealth
based on fossil fuel.
One of the disadvantages of
obtaining fossil fuel from its
source and processing it is the
increase of the Carbon
dioxide concentration in the
atmosphere, and this bears
heavily on a small country’s
environment.
Qatar is a small country with wealth
based on fossil fuel.
One of the disadvantages of
obtaining fossil fuel from its
source and processing it is the
increase of the Carbon
dioxide concentration in the
atmosphere, and this bears
heavily on a small country’s
environment.
Qatar is a small country with wealth
based on fossil fuel.
One of the disadvantages of
obtaining fossil fuel from its
source and processing it is the
increase of the Carbon
dioxide concentration in the
atmosphere, and this bears
heavily on a small country’s
environment.
Qatar is a small country with wealth
based on fossil fuel.
One of the disadvantages of
obtaining fossil fuel from its
source and processing it is the
increase of the Carbon
dioxide concentration in the
atmosphere, and this bears
heavily on a small country’s
environment.
Qatar is a small country with wealth
based on fossil fuel.
One of the disadvantages of
obtaining fossil fuel from its
source and processing it is the
increase of the Carbon
dioxide concentration in the
atmosphere, and this bears
heavily on a small country’s
environment.
Qatar is a small country with wealth
based on fossil fuel.
One of the disadvantages of
obtaining fossil fuel from its
source and processing it is the
increase of the Carbon
dioxide concentration in the
atmosphere, and this bears
heavily on a small country’s
environment.
Qatar is a small country with wealth
based on fossil fuel.
One of the disadvantages of
obtaining fossil fuel from its
source and processing it is the
increase of the Carbon
dioxide concentration in the
atmosphere, and this bears
heavily on a small country’s
environment.
Qatar is a small country with wealth
based on fossil fuel.
One of the disadvantages of
obtaining fossil fuel from its
source and processing it is the
increase of the Carbon
dioxide concentration in the
atmosphere, and this bears
heavily on a small country’s
environment.
Qatar is a small country with wealth
based on fossil fuel.
One of the disadvantages of
obtaining fossil fuel from its
source and processing it is the
increase of the Carbon
dioxide concentration in the
atmosphere, and this bears
heavily on a small country’s
environment.
Qatar is a small country with wealth based on fossil fuel. One of the disadvantages of
obtaining fossil fuel from its source and processing it is the increase of the Carbon dioxide
concentration in the atmosphere, and this bears heavily on a small country’s environment.

The local population is a

built up of several
nationalities. At present, the
residents of Qatar include
persons from 87 countries. Indians
(mainly from Kerala),
top the list by 650,000 and the
Nepalese come next with
more than 350,000 individuals.
The Qataris come third
with a total of 313,000 [18].
According to the UNDESA
[19], the population of Qatar is
2,606,947 individuals.
Qataris are mostly of a younger
generation with more than
20% under the age of 15 years.
The local population is a
built up of several
nationalities. At present, the
residents of Qatar include
persons from 87 countries. Indians
(mainly from Kerala),
top the list by 650,000 and the
Nepalese come next with
more than 350,000 individuals.
The Qataris come third
with a total of 313,000 [18].
According to the UNDESA
[19], the population of Qatar is
2,606,947 individuals.
Qataris are mostly of a younger
generation with more than
20% under the age of 15 years.
The local population is a built up of several nationalities. At present, the residents of Qatar
include persons from 87 countries. Indians (mainly from Kerala), top the list by 650,000 and
the Nepalese come next with more than 350,000 individuals. The Qataris come third with a
total of 313,000 [18]. According to the UNDESA [19], the population of Qatar is 2,606,947
individuals. Qataris are mostly of a younger generation with more than 20% under the age of
15 years. The impact of a large population in a non-agricultural country imposes great
pressure on demands including the import of food, provision of water, transport, and energy
consumption. Larger population requires the consideration of liquid and solid waste disposal,
and demands increase in the construction of homes where land is limited. Construction
increases dust causing health problems and leads to encroachment on virgin areas causing
habitat destruction. Because the country is rich, there is accordingly demand of a certain
standard of living that necessitates import of luxury commodities for locals and outsiders to
enjoy their wealth and increase in domestic helpers for their comfort

Qatar is not self-sufficient in

needs of agricultural
products and imports more than
80% of its needs of
agricultural products. Not
surprising, a main concern of
Qatar is food security. In recent
years, the subject was
discussed at many levels and was
the main topic in Qatar
Vision 2030
Qatar is not self-sufficient in needs of agricultural products and imports more than 80% of its
needs of agricultural products. Not surprising, a main concern of Qatar is food security. In
recent years, the subject was discussed at many levels and was the main topic in Qatar Vision
2030
Some nations may require support as the global decarbonization effort accelerates. The

decline in the use of fossil fuels may profoundly destabilize countries that have not prepared

their economies for the transition. In countries with weak governance, reduced revenue could

create political instability, and increased fragility in fossil-exporting countries can have

strong effects beyond the respective regions. Just as fossil fuels have shaped the geopolitical

map over for the past 200 years—altering international relations, affecting political alliances,

and informing national defense strategies—decarbonization and the global transition to

renewable energy sources will have profound consequences and alter the international

geopolitical landscape. It is therefore important for the world’s superpowers to play an

essential role when it comes to leading the initiative against climate change. In order to

accelerate the healing, the biggest contributors to the problem to start must be the biggest

contributors to the healing.

The three main sources of GHG
emissions are
energy production,
industrialization, and transportation
and all are the main concern for
Qatar.
The three main sources of GHG
emissions are
energy production,
industrialization, and transportation
and all are the main concern for
Qatar.
The three main sources of GHG emissions are energy production, industrialization, and
transportation and all are the main concern for Qatar.

Qatar also recognizes education as a key element in addressing climate change. A highly

skilled workforce is required to plan, manage, and execute the transition to a diversified and

competitive economy away from oil and gas, and to plan and implement adaptation measures,

as well as the corresponding transitions of infrastructure. Qatar’s educational system is

focused on preparing students to collaboratively address the complexity of our pressing

environmental challenges.

Changes in global markets will create new opportunities for Qatar in emerging fields, such as
emission reduction approaches, energy efficient technologies, green buildings, agricultural
management in arid regions, innovative education, and financing of low carbon activities.
Qatar is motivated by good global citizenship to support adaptation in developing countries
through increased support for low-carbon power generation.

***Not yet put

The Global Dryland Alliance (GDA) is an international organisation established to counter
the effects of food insecurity and the critical environmental and economic impacts associated
with climate change. According to a representative of the State of Qatar in Geneva, the State
of Qatar has continued its efforts to support the projects that are intended to help the countries
that suffer from these problems. Noting that the State of Qatar has pledged $100 million to
help small island developing states and least developed nations combat climate change, it is
also noted that the State of Qatar has worked to support rural communities in Somalia in their
pursuit of achieving food security and strengthening their capacity to adapt to the changing
climate through a joint project worth $1.7 million with the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO). To further this point, it is noted that the State of
Qatar has worked to support the rural communities in Somalia in pursuit of achieving

The economic importance of oil and gas makes Qatar and other GCC countries economically
vulnerable to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.37 Modeling by the IPCC
and OPEC38 find that, like other OPEC member countries, Qatar’s economy would be
adversely impacted by measures adopted by industrial countries to reduce their GHG
emissions. Specifically, a shift by large economies toward increased fuel efficiency and the
development of electric cars could lead to reduced global demand for oil. For example,
tighter fuel economy standards have recently been introduced in the U.S., the EU and
China,39 and countries have recently signaled their support for the development of electric
vehicles through production and sales targets, and subsidy policies.40 In addition,
“breakthrough” technologies such as longer battery storage could further reduce demand for
fossil fuels.

CHALLENGES

Given that Qatar has the greatest GDP in the world and is capable of maintaining its own
development and catering for a growing population, the Qatar National Vision 2030 seeks to
transform Qatar into a developed country by the year 2030 with the high standard of living
for the entire population for future generations (GSDP, 2008). This high-level document for
Qatar addresses a number of challenges that it hopes to manage and resolve by 2030.
Additionally, it offers roadmaps for Qatar's development patterns until 2030 but there are
difficulties related to climate change.

The first of the challenges is that the requirements of both the current generation and future
generations. It is made clear by this challenge that a continuous dependence on hydrocarbons
without considering hydrocarbons are a limited resource, creating additional "sources of
renewable income" could be detrimental to Qatari society. The use of hydrocarbons and the
accompanying GHG will affect the recommended mitigation and adaptation linked to land
use planning.

Besides, the uncontrolled expansion and managed growth also considered as the challenges
due to the climate change. The rapid and uncontrolled growth stress can cause financial
vulnerability, environmental harm, expanding social disparities, and other challenges.
demonstrates the importance of planning and suggests that the unplanned and uncontrolled
urban expansion is harmed by the environment.

While the next challenges is the growth in the economy, social progress, and environmental
management. With the acknowledges that environmental impacts from development are
likely to be negative, but argues that development should be compatible with preserving and
protecting the environment. the expense of the environment introduces the idea of
compensation in spatial land planning and development. When a negative impact on the
environment is recognised from economic development, it should be "paid with investments
in technology that help enhance the environment" (GSDP, 2008). in some cases, they puts the
economic before the environment.