Qatar's Perception of Climate Change and Meeting the Challenges

Abstract

Since the mid-fifties scientists noted a change in the global climate. Previously, reasons for the climate change have been postulated and linked to solar activity and cycles causing events such as cyclical droughts. Climate change was once speculation, an observation, and then backed by scientific evidence and, now, there is no doubt or denial of its impact and real consequences on human lives. It is known that climate change is increasing the incidence, frequency, and magnitude of natural disasters, climate-related hazards, including droughts, fires, powerful typhoons or sea level rise. In the 1990's warming sea temperature related to high temperatures led to coral bleaching which was attributed to El Nino conditions. Climate change disrupts national economies, increases the risk and stress of water, sewer, drainage and transportation systems as well as infrastructure including the risk to human lives. Moreover, there is fear of more drastic effects in the near and far future including solar radiation, volcanoes, etc. More recent observations of a crack in the Antarctic ice caused alarm as what would an increase in sea levels would mean particularly, to lowland countries and islands. The iceberg of Larsen C has eventually separated off West Antarctica (July 2017). Many have felt recent devastations by hurricanes. It is now accepted that human activities have led to global warming. The majority have now realized that there is a problem and that we have to deal with it. Firstly, we need to take actions to minimize the impact of global warming by finding solutions and taking actions to deal with climate change. The UN led the effort and took action by holding "The Climate Summit" [1] in New York. This undertaking is a partnership between all sectors including farming, range, forest, academia, government, NGO, others to form a serious, legally binding commitment to take effective actions considering mitigation adaptation, and future investments in the energy, biodiversity, sustainability as they relate to climate change. This paper presents the case of Qatar with suggestions for how to deal with climate change and its commitment to the international agenda to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.