Doha: The State of Qatar places significant emphasis on environmental policies, adopting sustainable practices to safeguard natural resources, improve land management, and bolster community resilience against desertification and drought. This is achieved through land use regulation, afforestation efforts, and the use of native plants to enhance soil fertility and reduce erosion, alongside sustainable agricultural techniques that improve water resource efficiency and productivity.
According to Qatar News Agency, drought is projected to affect over three-quarters of the global population by 2050, as per United Nations forecasts. Qatar is actively working to tackle these challenges and halt land degradation by promoting agricultural reclamation projects. These efforts aim to transform deserts into green landscapes, enhance biodiversity, utilize treated water for irrigation, improve air quality, expand green spaces, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Aligned with its commitments under the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, Qatar’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change launched the ‘One Million Trees’ initiative, aiming to plant 10 million trees by 2030. The initiative is open to all members of society, encouraging participation from government institutions, the private sector, schools, and residents. It focuses on planting native flora such as Ghaf, Sidr, and Samr across strategic sites including roads, parks, and residential areas.
Qatar’s environmental milestones include hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022, which underscored sustainability in planning, and saw a significant expansion in public parks and green spaces. By 2022, public parks increased to 148 from just 56 in 2010, with green spaces expanding to over 43 million square meters, reflecting a 164% growth.
Expo 2023 Doha, the first A1-rated international horticultural exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa, highlighted Qatar’s commitment to sustainability. The event, themed “Green Desert, Better Environment,” promoted solutions to combat desertification through modern agriculture, technology, and environmental awareness. It was attended by 79 countries, drawing over three million participants.
Qatar continues its environmental advocacy in international forums, presenting its strategies at the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Saudi Arabia in 2024. HE Undersecretary Abdulaziz bin Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud emphasized Qatar’s commitment to the UNCCD, adopting a national strategic plan to address desertification and promote sustainability.
Qatar’s efforts have led to an increase in the per capita share of green space, rising to 16 square meters in 2022 from less than 1 square meter in 2010. The state is investing in land reclamation to achieve agricultural self-sufficiency, addressing challenges such as enriching desert soil with minerals and combating harsh climatic conditions.
The 12th edition of the Qatar International Agricultural Exhibition (AgriteQ 2025) further emphasized Qatar’s environmental dedication, promoting agricultural technologies and international partnerships to drive innovation in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.
Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality is committed to expanding green areas through initiatives like “Plant a Million Trees,” which successfully planted one million trees by 2022, and the ongoing Initiative to Plant 10 Million Trees by 2030. These efforts have resulted in all eight Qatari cities being recognized as Healthy Cities by the World Health Organization and seven joining the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.
Qatari laws enforce strict regulations to protect wildlife and green spaces, with penalties for environmental harm. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change stresses the shared responsibility of all societal sectors in safeguarding the environment for future generations.