(MENAFN- The Peninsula) fazeena saleem |
The Peninsula
The US embassy in Qatar has been collaborating with government agencies and other partners to promote sustainability and combat climate change.
The embassy works closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Qatar's special envoy for Climate Change and Sustainability as well as Qatar Energy on sustainability and combatting climate change, said US Ambassador to Qatar, H E Timmy T Davis.
Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of an event held to mark the Earth Day recently, Ambassador Davis said there are a number of ongoing sustainability initiatives, including the upcoming International Horticultural Exhibition Expo 2023 Doha, which are supported by the US embassy.
“The Horticultural Exhibition Expo 2023 that's going to happen later this year - we think that's a big and important event,” he said.
To a question about the US participation in the Expo 2023 Doha, the ambassador said,“I've been having a conversation with the Minister and the Special Envoy for Climate Change and Sustainability. I know there are a number of US companies interested in participating at the Expo 2023. We've talked to our Foreign Agriculture Service as well, and so we're excited about Expo 2023.”
With the theme Green Desert, Better Environment; Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha, Qatar will gather countries from around the world around the collective aim of building greener and more sustainable communities. Ambassador Davis also indicated that Qatar's participation in the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) is crucial.
“Qatar's participation in COP 28 is extremely important and we have conversations all the time. There are many countries that aren't greenhouse gas emitters who are harmed by climate change.
"We shouldn't just think about how we stop our own emissions. We should think about how we help the countries that are disproportionately impacted by climate change. So we all have this responsibility,” he said.
“Across agencies and non-governmental organisations in Qatar, we're building the kinds of relationships that can be responsive,” he added.
The US embassy works with local partners to promote sustainability and combat climate change. For example, the US Embassy held a recent programme in which Qatar-based artist Lauren Morell taught youth to 'upcycle' old clothes into new, sustainable fashion; their work was displayed at the opening of the
Liwan Design Studios and Labs.
The US embassy works with Doha Environmental Actions Project (DEAP), a volunteer organisation that organises regular beach and dune cleanups and educates the public about reducing plastic pollution.
The US embassy also works with the Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar (AYCMQ) and supported it in creating the Middle East's first-ever
carbon footprint tracking app“AYCMQA” in 2022.
The US embassy sponsors artists in Qatar to create public art that addresses themes of environmental protection, like the mural at Al Bidda metro station.
Another mural is expected to be unveiled at Souq Al Wakrah in June.