Qatar Environment Day Theme: "Climate Change: Common Global Challenges"

Doha, February 25 (QNA) - Qatari Ministry of Environment said that celebrating Qatar's Environment Day on February 26 every year highlights the close attention the country gives to the environment thanks to the directives of the wise leadership of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The ministry said in a statement that the theme of "Climate Change: Common Global Challenges" reaffirms Qatar's interest in the universal issue that bears fatal dangers on the global environment. Thus, Qatar has signed all the relevant regional and international agreements and protocols such as desertification, climate change and biodiversity agreements, while also effectively participating in all the regional and international environmental forums. In appreciation of Qatar's great role in solving global environmental issues, the 17th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference that was recently held in South Africa agreed that Qatar would organize the 18th edition towards the end of this year. "This reaffirms and strengthens the international community's confidence in our ability to host such major conferences," the statement said. It added that Qatar believes that the Framework Convention on Climate Change is the appropriate frame for consulting and understanding so as to find the best ways of reducing the effects of climate change and developing the appropriate mechanisms for adapting, mitigating and treating natural phenomena that result from climate change. The ministry pointed in the statement to the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) warnings of the climate change negative effects threatening millions of people who survive on nature. The statement explained that the climate change may lead to the extinction of millions of living organisms, and the rise of sea levels by up to 1.5 meters by the end of the century compared to the current level, a threat that affects life in the planet. (QNA)