DOHA: Qatar will develop a national policy to manage air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and the broader challenges of climate change.
The recently-launched National Development Strategy 2011- 2016 has identified the environmental challenges facing the country and laid down an action plan.
The country has seen a rise in pollutants that can pose health risks. Among them are particulates (such as dust), nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and ozone.
"High prevalence of asthma and other respiratory diseases is believed to be caused or exacerbated by these pollutants. A recent finding that almost a fifth of Qatari schoolchildren suffer from asthma is a serious concern. Links will be analysed in a study on air pollution and human health," says the NDS report.
The government will also develop an early warning tool to determine the sources of ozone pollution, including those in neighbouring countries.
Although average ozone levels meet international standards, there have been instances where ozone levels exceeded safe levels. Under the government's strategy ozone levels would be controlled to eliminate any periods of excessive levels.
Energy consumption in the country grew by 57 percent from 2001 to 2006 as a result of a rapidly growing population and expansion in the energy and industrial sectors.
Fuel combustion during energy production accounts for 67 percent of Qatar's carbon dioxide emissions. Households and commercial users account for the remaining 33 percent of total emissions.
"Qatar's carbon dioxide emissions are comparatively low-- about 0.2 percent of the world's total. But as a major energy-producing country with a small population, Qatar is unfairly penalised when carbon dioxide emissions (from production and consumption combined) are measured on a per capita basis. By this yardstick Qatar emerges as the world's highest emitter. But Qatar would be ranked much lower if only emissions stemming from consumption were measured. Qatar lacks forests and green areas to offset the effects of greenhouse gas emission," says the report.
Qatar is among the 10 countries that would be most affected by a rise in sea level, which could damage coastlines and marine life.
If average temperatures rise, demand for water could increase, along with salinity in the groundwater.
Climate change scenarios envision more weather extremes, which could mean heavy local flooding and sandstorms.
Meanwhile, climate-related stresses in other countries could affect the price and availability of food imports, it added.
© The Peninsula 2011
