QATAR NATIONAL VISION 2030 ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT QATAR'S SECOND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT General Secretariat FOR Development Planning JULY 2009 Chapter 1 1 First published July 2009 Copyright GSDP. All Rights Reserved. General Secretariat for Development Planning Doha Towers P.O.Box 1855 Doha, Qatar www.gsdp.gov.qa Publication design by MZ&Partners Printed by Gulf Publishing and Printing Company The content of this publication may be freely reproduced for non-commercial purposes with attribution to the copyright holders. Cover photo from Al Wakra, Qatar. ii Advancing Sustainable Development Foreword The Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030), launched in October 2008 by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Heir Apparent, defines long-term development outcomes for Qatar, and provides a framework within which national development strategies and implementation plans can be prepared. The QNV 2030 is based on the Guiding Principles of Qatar’s Permanent Constitution and is underpinned by four interrelated pillars: Human Development: development that expands the opportunities and capabilities of all the people of Qatar to enable them to sustain a prosperous society; Social Development: development of a just and caring society based on high moral standards and supportive social policies, and where Qatar plays a significant role in the global partnership for development; Economic Development: development of a competitive and diversified economy capable of meeting the needs of, and securing a high standard of living for, all its people both for the present and for the future; and Environmental Development: management of the environment such that there is harmony between economic growth, social development and environmental protection – the three dimensions of sustainable development. Each of these Pillars has clearly defined long-term outcomes with important interlinkages. To achieve these outcomes and remain true to its values, Qatar has committed to balance five critical challenges: (i) modernization and preservation of traditions; (ii) the needs of this generation and the needs of future generations; (iii) managed growth and uncontrolled expansion; (iv) the size and quality of the expatriate labour force and the selected path of development; and (v) economic growth, social development and environmental management. Qatar has, and continues to make, conspicuous progress in improving human development – moving from 57th to 34th out of 179 countries in the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Human Development Index between 1997 and 2006 (as reported in 2008). Human and economic development and the protection of the environment are competing demands that must be reconciled with each other. Exceptionally high economic growth, too rapid urban development and high population growth can have an adverse impact on sustainable development. In order to minimise risks, Qatar has adopted several initiatives to protect its natural environment, including projects to monitor air and water quality, reduce carbon emissions and maintain biological diversity. Nevertheless, Qatar is facing major environmental challenges that need to be appropriately resolved, particularly achieving water security, reducing carbon emissions and increasing energy efficiency, and mitigating risks that threaten the safety of the marine environment. Assessing the severity of risks and dealing with anticipated changes will require mobilizing resources, coordinating efforts and putting appropriate policy and regulatory frameworks in place. As part of GSDP's efforts to support the achievement of the QNV 2030, and cognizant of the growing national and international imperative to address environmental challenges, in June 2008 GSDP decided to begin the preparations of Qatar’s Second Human Development Report (HDR), Advancing Sustainable Development, focusing on sustainable development themes. Qatar’s first HDR, The State of Qatar 2006, reviewed the various dimensions of human development. Chapter 1 iii This 2009 HDR identifies issues and challenges related to three critical environmental stress points for Qatar, namely, (i) water security; (ii) threats to the marine environment; and (iii) the effects of climate change. If left unattended, these concerns have the potential to halt or reverse the significant development progress that the nation has achieved thus far. Maintaining progress, especially in the midst of the current severe global and financial crisis, necessitates addressing these sustainable development challenges. The 2009 HDR thus concludes with a set of recommendations that will help overcome the challenges. These recommendations will be carefully reviewed by key stakeholders, and following refinement, will serve as inputs to preparing Qatar’s first National Development Strategy 2010 - 2015. Qatar’s efforts in protecting the environment will not be sufficient on their own. Qatar is a part of the Gulf region, which constitutes an ecological system that is affected by the practices and activities of every country in the region. Thus, Qatar is playing and will continue to play a proactive and significant regional and international role in efforts to promote sustainable development. Qatar’s second HDR was prepared in strong partnership with relevant ministries and government agencies, the private sector, civil society and the UNDP Abu Dhabi office. It has benefited from the guidance of a multi-stakeholder National Steering Committee. It is based on several background papers commissioned by GSDP and the outcome of a national seminar, ‘Towards Achieving the Environmental Outcomes of the QNV 2030’, which was held on 27 January 2009. In conclusion, I would like to sincerely thank Sheikh Hamad bin Jabor bin Jassim Al-Thani, Director General, GSDP, Chair of the National Steering Committee, for his leadership and professionalism in preparing this HDR. I would also like to thank all members of the HDR Project Report Team (listed on page v) for their tremendous efforts, commitment and professionalism in putting this publication together, as well as those persons who contributed background papers. Special appreciation is extended to members of the National Steering Committee and UNDP for providing helpful comments on an earlier draft of this Report. I am sure that the analysis and recommendations that it contains will prove to be useful in the context of the preparations of Qatar’s first National Development Strategy, as well as to policy makers and planners outside of Qatar interested in promoting sustainable development. Ibrahim Ibrahim Secretary General General Secretariat for Development Planning July 2009 iv Advancing Sustainable Development Acknowledgements: Qatar’s Human Development Report Team Members of the National Steering Committee Sheikh Hamad bin Jabor bin Jassim Al-Thani, Director General, GSDP (Chair) Dr Richard Leete, Director, Social Affairs Department, GSDP Mr Yousof Ibrahim Al-Hamar, Director of Technical Affairs, Ministry of Environment Mr Mubarak A. Aziz Al Khalifa, Administrative Consultant, Ministry of Environment Eng Yousuf Ahmad Al-Janah, Director, Planning and Business Development Department, Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) Eng. Jaber Al. Mohannadi, Director of the Sanitation Department, Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Eng. Ahmed Al Abdel Malek, Assistant Director of Agricultural Development Department, Ministry of Environment Dr Hassan Al Mohannadi, Vice-Chairman, Permanent Population Committee, Qatar (PPC) Mr Naser Saleh Al Mahdi, Director, Census, Household Surveys and Statistical Methods Department, Qatar Statistics Authority Dr Mohsin Abdullah Al Ansi, Director, Environmental Studies Center, Qatar University Mr Saif Saed Al-Naimi, Director, HSE Regulations and Enforcement, Qatar Petroleum Dr Ali Hamed Al Mulla, Manager, Environment and Sustainable Development, Corporate HSE, Qatar Petroleum Mr James E. Baldwin, Head of Environmental Affairs, Qatargas Operating Company Ltd Dr Amer Al-Hashimi, Manager, Sustainable Development and Corporate Environment, Qatar Shell GTL Ltd Dr Benno Boer, Ecological Sciences Advisor, UNESCO Arab Region Ms Naoual Driouich, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP UAE Ms Ayat El Dewary, Programme Analyst, UNDP UAE Project Team Director and Editor: Dr Richard Leete, Director, Social Affairs Department, GSDP Project Manager and Assistant Editor: Ms Trudy Tan, Social Affairs Expert, GSDP Advisor: Dr Hassan Al Mohannadi, Vice-Chairman, PPC Researchers: Ms Aziza Al Khalaqi, Researcher, GSDP Mrs Nahed Al Bouainain, Researcher, GSDP Mr Cheng Fan Soon, Technical Data Specialist, GSDP Mr Hadi Assaf, Social Affairs Associate Expert, GSDP Background Papers Dr Hassan Al Mohannadi, Vice-Chairman, PPC Mr Naser Saleh Al Mahdi, Director, Census, Household Surveys and Statistical Methods Department, Qatar Statistics Authority Dr Mohsin Abdullah Al Ansi, Director, Environmental Studies Center, Qatar University Dr Ali Hamed Al Mulla, Manager, Environment and Sustainable Development, Corporate HSE, Qatar Petroleum Dr Azhari F. Mohd Ahmed, Lead Environmental Engineer and Focal Point of QP/TOTAL Modeling Project (EVM/2), Corporate Environment and Sustainable Development, Qatar Petroleum Mr Said A Yusuf, Lead Environment Engineer (Projects), Corporate Environment and Sustainable Development, Qatar Petroleum Dr Salman Rashid Salman, Manager, Health, Safety and Environment Department, Qatar Technical Inspection Company Dr Kamel Mostafa Amer, Water Resources Expert, Department of Agricultural