Earthna Summit 2023 aims to steer global sustainability conversations toward hot and arid environments
Doha, Qatar, 5 March, 2023: The way that the practices of the past can help shape a sustainable tomorrow for Qatar and the world will be explored when Qatar Foundation’s Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future holds its inaugural summit this week.
Under the theme of Building New Sustainability Pathways for Hot and Arid Environments, the Earthna Summit 2023 – aiming to be carbon-neutral – takes place from 8–9 March at Msheireb Downtown Doha. The Summit is open to the public and can be attended by registering at .https://www.earthna.qa/registration-public-sessions.
At a press briefing announcing the Summit, Engineer Saad Al Hitmi, Acting Director of the Climate Change Department from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, said: “At the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, we look forward to participating in the discussions at the Earthna Summit, and listening to the various opinions and ideas coming from countries around the world to learn more about the latest developments in the field of environmental practices and ways to achieve sustainability and climate change. For this, we will be convening with thought leaders from the government sector, the private sector, industrial, research, academic sectors, as well as from the environmental organizations in the State of Qatar.
“The Summit will provide a unique opportunity for the citizens and residents of the State of Qatar to interact and promote sustainable practices and encourage their adoption.
“The Summit will also focus on the unique challenges facing countries with difficult climatic conditions that are similar to the climate of the State of Qatar. Hence, we will discuss these issues with such countries and work collectively to find solutions to the common challenges.
“On this occasion, I affirm the commitment of the State of Qatar in addressing these challenges and continuing our search for the best ways to solve them. I would like to highlight the distinguished record enjoyed by the State of Qatar in the field of climate action, both at the local and global levels.”
The Summit will see climate change and sustainability experts as well as policymakers, and those with indigenous knowledge of hot and arid climates from around the world, come together to share knowledge, ideas, and solutions on the planet’s most pressing environmental issues.
“The Earthna Summit 2023 builds on our work in Qatar by convening stakeholders from across the world to share research and innovation, their lived experiences, their indigenous knowledge, and their ideas and solutions related to sustainability in hot and arid environments,” Dr. Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, Executive Director of Earthna, said.
“Throughout the Summit, there will be a focus on humanity’s historical connection with the environment, and how we can apply the indigenous practices that our ancestors used to address challenges that existed in their time, to current global thinking on sustainability and climate change,” Dr. Castro de la Mata added.
The Summit will also feature the Earthna Village, a public area at Baharat Msheireb displaying items and methods from different countries that are part of humanity’s cultural heritage, with an agora space hosting interactive talks and workshops. The Earthna Village is open to the public and no registration is required.
Participants can attend a variety of sessions, workshops, and panel discussions based on the Summit’s main topics that are of critical importance to Qatar: food and security adaption; climate change and energy transition; circularity and resilient cities; biodiversity and ecosystems; and education, awareness and values.
The Summit will aim to turn global sustainability conversations in the direction of hot and arid environments, reflecting that such global discussions have long been shaped by issues relevant to tropical and temperate countries – leading to a perception that hot and arid countries, and in particular those with desert environments, are less relevant to sustainability.
The Summit will seek to challenge this understanding, and build new sustainability pathways for countries with similar climates to Qatar. It will also highlight the impacts of climate change on countries with hot and arid climates and their critical adaptation needs, and explore the positive contributions that countries such as Qatar can make towards energy transition and addressing climate change.
“The concept of sustainability is known and unified, but current global sustainability paths do not take into account the different environmental and biological differences for each region,” said Habes Howail, External Relations Manager, CEO Office, Qatar Foundation.
“An area such as the Arabian Gulf is located in a desert environment and its biodiversity is different from others, so its path toward a sustainable future will also differ, and the journey of each country and each environment will be unique and requires pursuit in various paths, including cultural, environmental and social sustainability.”