DOHA: Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie has affirmed Qatar is taking the necessary measures, with clear steps, to achieve harmony between national development and international approaches to protect the ozone layer.
He pointed out the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) praise for Qatar’s establishment of a remote training course related to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (the Montreal Protocol). It is the first of its kind during the current Covid-19 pandemic.
Al Subaie was making a speech on the occasion of World Ozone Day celebrated on 16 September. This year’s theme is ‘Ozone For Life’.
He said Qatar believes in the importance of the international community’s participation in efforts aimed at preserving the environment in general and protecting the ozone layer in particular.
Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol
Qatar is a member of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol and its amendments. This enables Qatar to benefit from technical and knowledge tools that would ensure that the country keeps pace with developments in this field, he said.
He said his Ministry relies on awareness of the various sectors in the state about the importance of their role and contribution to protecting the ozone layer by adopting environment-friendly alternatives and technologies that will not harm the ozone layer.
This is in addition to implementing national and regional legislation in this field. Qatar is an integral part of the international system, and any efforts undertaken at the national level would constitute a milestone in the system of international efforts aimed at protecting the ozone layer, he said.