CO2 Champion
Since the 1980s, Qatar'sCO2 emissions have risen astronomically, in line with the growth of its economy. At their peak in 2005, emissions were approaching a stratospheric 50 tonnes per capita. Although this figure has now fallen to just over 30 tonnes per capita, the country is still the grand champion of per capita emissions: a Qatari produces twice as much as an American, four times as much as a Chinese and seven times as much as a French person. It is mainly the gas industry that is responsible for this sad record, which of course also depends on the small population. As the world's 15th largest oil producer and5th largest gas producer, Qatar has an energy-intensive economy. The government is already aiming to reverse this trend, promising a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The key to success is liquefied natural gas, of which the country is the largest producer, and which will take over from solar energy, which is being implemented for the first time in 2022. In addition to this, the government is investing in decarbonization technologies, which could remove the carbon dioxide already present in the atmosphere, thus repairing the damage already done. This starts with the planting of a million trees to absorb emissions. Finally, the government is investing in research into clean fuels, such as hydrogen.
Faced with the heat, the air-conditioned streets
The heat and drought are becoming so unbearable in Qatar that it is feared it will soon become nothing more than a vast, uninhabited desert. It has to be said that the Gulf country didn't start out with the best cards in its hand: an arid climate, high humidity due to evaporation from the Gulf waters that prevents body cooling, stifling temperatures (with heat peaks of around 50°C!), and not a single lake or river. This last point in particular poses a problem, because faced with the total absence of fresh water, the country has to draw on groundwater and desalinate seawater to meet the needs of its population. As a result, the water stress index is at its highest. In spite of this, water, so scarce and precious, remains free, so much so that while a French person consumes around 150 liters of water a day, a Qatari needs 500.
At a time when the climate is already significantly out of kilter with climate change, as residents of the capital witnessed in 2018 and 2024, when more than a year's rain fell in a single day, the heat becomes all the more stifling. Urban areas such as Doha are particularly hard hit, due to the high density of heat-absorbing materials and asphalt. To counter this problem, Qatar has begun to use light-reflecting blue materials in road construction, thus cooling the temperature by 7°C. Although energy consumption is at the root of the problem, Qatar is taking short-term measures to deal with it, such as when, in the late 2010s, it began installing air conditioners in the streets to enable residents to continue living normally. Yet 60% of the country's electricity is used for cooling.
A controversial World Cup
While the government hoped that the event would showcase the development and influence of this wealthy country to the world, it has, above all, aroused considerable controversy about the country's environmental record. The very choice of this country, adept at setting record temperatures in a fragile environment, to host thousands of fans, leaves many doubting.
Not for lack of trying to smooth things over with a number of promises. In particular, the French Minister for the Environment has promised that the 2018 event will be "carbon neutral", and that solar energy will be used, without providing any specific figures. The organizers are also trying to highlight innovative environmental solutions, such as Stade 974, which is made of containers and can be completely dismantled, for less energy-consuming construction and less waste. However, some are already accusing the event of a vast greenwashing operation designed to conceal a less glowing reality. The temperature, in particular, poses a problem, as it does not allow the sport to be played, so the competition has had to be postponed until November and December, when temperatures will be milder: a minimum of 25°C nonetheless. To keep players and tourists cool, a giant air-conditioning system has been installed in the stadiums. The stadium's strategic location on a man-made peninsula is one of the main reasons why the organizers are trying to use the water from the Gulf to cool the stadium more efficiently. This is not enough to silence the critics, who recall the 2019 World Athletics Championships, when the stadium's 3,000 air vents caused the temperature to drop to a pleasant 25°C, even though the outside temperature was 42°C.
Protected areas in their infancy
Qatar has 9 protected areas, 4 of which are marine. They are traditionally not open to the public, although since the beginning of 2022, the Ministry has made it possible to register for certain slots to visit the reserves. The protected areas were almost all created in the early 2000s, in a conservation effort still in its infancy. One of the benefits is that they provide habitat for endangered animals, such as the rare Arabian oryx, an antelope that was saved from extinction by a small population kept in captivity at a U.S. zoo in the 1960s, which led to the reintroduction of the species.
Among the protected areas, the State has submitted the Khor Al Udayd reserve to the Unesco World Heritage. In this unique environment in the world, an inland sea subject to the tides and dunes in a complex expanse of lagoons. Where, in the past, nomads used to graze their camels, rare species such as the dugong, an animal close to the manatee, both in its taxonomic rank and its chubby appearance, but which differs from it thanks to its tail close to that of a cetacean, now flourish.
On the other hand, the only real natural park is the Umm Tais National Park, an uninhabited island in the north of the state. It is populated by nothing but a mangrove, deserted beaches, numerous species of birds and marine animals. A true bird sanctuary, the park is currently being redesigned to delight tourists, who will be able to observe ibises, herons, cormorants and ospreys.Protected areas in their infancy
Qatar has 9 protected areas, 4 of which are marine. They are not traditionally open to the public, although since the beginning of 2022, the Ministry has made it possible to register for certain slots to visit the reserves. Almost all the protected areas were created in the early 2000s, in a conservation drive still in its infancy. In particular, they provide a habitat for endangered animals such as the rare Arabian oryx, an antelope that was saved from extinction by a small population kept in captivity in an American zoo in the 1960s, which led to the reintroduction of the species.
Among its protected areas, the State has declared the Khor Al Udayd reserve a Unesco World Heritage Site. This unique environment combines a tidal inland sea and dunes in a complex expanse of lagoons. Here, where nomads once grazed their camels, rare species such as the dugong now flourish. This animal is close to the manatee in both taxonomic rank and chubby appearance, but differs in that its tail is similar to that of a cetacean.
The only real natural park is Umm Tais National Park, an uninhabited island in the north of the state. It is populated by nothing but mangroves, deserted beaches and numerous species of birds and marine animals. A veritable bird sanctuary, the park is currently being redesigned for the enjoyment of tourists, who will be able to observe ibises, herons, cormorants and ospreys.
