HE Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi underlined that the State of Qatar is aware of the risks imposed by climate change, ozone depletion, drought and desertification, as well as similar and interrelated environmental problems such as scarcity of water resources, industrial pollution, soil degradation and pollution of the marine environment.

Out of its keenness on the security and prosperity of homelands which became threatened by the risks of environmental problems, the State of Qatar, under the wise leadership of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, attaches great importance to international cooperation for the preservation of the environment and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment said in his speech before the 7th Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers in Rabat.

The two-day conference was organized by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), under the theme “Towards an effective Islamic cooperation to achieve sustainable development goals”.

HE Minister Al Rumaihi noted that the State of Qatar has taken many practical steps and measures at the national level to preserve the environment and its natural resources, in the framework of sustainable development.

He stressed that the State of Qatar looks forward to a more intensive international Islamic effort to exchange information and experience in this field.

In spite of all the Islamic and international efforts made over the past decades and the recommendations of the meetings and conferences held in cooperation and coordination with regional and international bodies and organizations, the risks continue to threaten the planet. In order to effectively address these risks, an international legitimacy within an agreed system among residents of this common human homeland must be achieved by strengthening cooperation between the countries of the world in general and the countries of the Islamic world in particular, in addition to promoting efforts towards a green economy and achieving sustainable development in the Islamic world, HE the Minister underlined.

The Minister of Municipalities and Environment lauded the signing by the 15 member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the founding convention of the Global Dryland Alliance, whose founding conference was held in Doha on October 15, under the patronage of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, noting that the Alliance called on all Islamic countries, where the dry area exceeds 50%, to join it.

He highlighted Qatar’s active participation in the Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers, which emphasizes its belief in the importance of the conference which represents a milestone on the path of joint Islamic action in the field of the environment, and an opportunity to stimulate global efforts and coordination among Islamic countries for consultation and dialogue, and to take appropriate decisions on environmental issues and problems.

Concluding, the Minister of Municipality and Environment expressed his confidence in the capabilities of the participants in the conference to study, discuss and analyze the various aspects of the topics presented, and to come up with decisions and recommendations that promote joint action to protect the environment, preserve the natural resources and achieve the goals of sustainable development

Source: Fana News