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Qatar is highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Any change in the global climate would have a substantial impact on the country’s fragile eco system. Global climate models suggest that the country’s annual mean temperature is expected to increase by 1.5 to 3.0 degrees Celsius by the year 2050.
It is projected to further soar between 2.3 and 5.9 degrees Celsius by the year 2100. Qatar’s climate records over the past 40 years show that its annual temperature has increased by 0.3 degree Celsius, an expert revealed here yesterday. Dr Ali Hamed Al Mulla, Manager Environment and Sustainable Development, Qatar Petroleum (QP) said at a National Environment seminar hosted by the General Secretariat for Development Planning (GSDP) that any further change in the global climate would have a major impact on Qatar’s eco-system and environment.
“This suggests that the existing hot climate in Qatar, with water stress conditions, will result in additional stress on terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems. The need and availability of water, sea-level change effects, and human health are of utmost importance in Qatar”.
Dr Al Mulla said Qatar’s public health, coastal and marine life, infrastructure and agriculture would be the more vulnerable sectors in the event of a substantial change in the global climate. Thermal stress and air quality will have immediate and relevant effects. Heat exhaustion and heat-stroke cases could increase due to increasing temperature. Heat indices are bound to increase with temperature increase, more so with higher humidity levels.
With increased density of population in the urban areas of Doha, the effects will be more. The probable increase in desertification will lead to an increase in respiratory problems of people, especially among children, asthmatic and old, he said. Dr Al Mulla said framework and policy initiatives need to be formulated after a careful and detailed impact study. The challenges of land-based sources like large human settlements along the coasts, power and desalination plants close to the coasts are critical. Because coastal water surrounding Qatar is shallow, any small Sea Level Rise (SLR) will have profound influence on coastal and marine settlements, he said.
In addition to the impacts of sea level rise, the protection of the marine environment, which supports 955 known marine species, is equally important for Qatar. Coastal development including the New Doha International Airport (NDIA) and residential projects need to be critically evaluated, within the context of climate change conditions, Dr Al Mulla said.
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It is projected to further soar between 2.3 and 5.9 degrees Celsius by the year 2100. Qatar’s climate records over the past 40 years show that its annual temperature has increased by 0.3 degree Celsius, an expert revealed here yesterday. Dr Ali Hamed Al Mulla, Manager Environment and Sustainable Development, Qatar Petroleum (QP) said at a National Environment seminar hosted by the General Secretariat for Development Planning (GSDP) that any further change in the global climate would have a major impact on Qatar’s eco-system and environment.
“This suggests that the existing hot climate in Qatar, with water stress conditions, will result in additional stress on terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems. The need and availability of water, sea-level change effects, and human health are of utmost importance in Qatar”.
Dr Al Mulla said Qatar’s public health, coastal and marine life, infrastructure and agriculture would be the more vulnerable sectors in the event of a substantial change in the global climate. Thermal stress and air quality will have immediate and relevant effects. Heat exhaustion and heat-stroke cases could increase due to increasing temperature. Heat indices are bound to increase with temperature increase, more so with higher humidity levels.
With increased density of population in the urban areas of Doha, the effects will be more. The probable increase in desertification will lead to an increase in respiratory problems of people, especially among children, asthmatic and old, he said. Dr Al Mulla said framework and policy initiatives need to be formulated after a careful and detailed impact study. The challenges of land-based sources like large human settlements along the coasts, power and desalination plants close to the coasts are critical. Because coastal water surrounding Qatar is shallow, any small Sea Level Rise (SLR) will have profound influence on coastal and marine settlements, he said.
In addition to the impacts of sea level rise, the protection of the marine environment, which supports 955 known marine species, is equally important for Qatar. Coastal development including the New Doha International Airport (NDIA) and residential projects need to be critically evaluated, within the context of climate change conditions, Dr Al Mulla said.
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