Energy, water, and environment are inextricably interlinked. Here in Qatar, we are more vulnerable than ever to the effects of climate change and weather, as the harsh desert environment presents challenges specific to the region. We have an exceptional responsibility to address the topic of sustainability, which impacts considerably on the wellbeing and livelihoods of populations in Qatar, the GCC, and other desert regions worldwide.
Qatar has been under the global spotlight for the last number of years, after being elected to be the host country for the FIFA World Cup 2022. In addition, a three-and-a-half-year blockade by neighboring countries from 2017 meant that food security became a pressing issue, and critical to include in a nexus approach to sustainability.
With virtually no conventional water resources, Qatar is regarded as one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. Zero surface water resources and mainly brackish groundwater resources, which are over-abstracted and difficult to recharge, cannot ever be expected to meet the needs of the growing population. Nevertheless, through intensive strategic investment in the use of non-conventional water resources, most notably desalination of seawater to meet municipal, governmental, and commercial needs, and desalination of brackish groundwater to meet agricultural needs, Qatar has managed to secure the provision of safe water for its entire resident population. The country has, in addition, massively increased its indigenous food security since 2017.
Some of the most impressive sustainability initiatives introduced in Qatar over the last decade include the implementation of mega-projects designed to future-proof the country. In energy, the 800 MW Siraj solar photovoltaic field is intended to supplement electricity production using renewable energy. In water, the mega-reservoirs project and state-of-the-art desalination plants are designed to ensure the provision of safe water for residents for more than one week in the event of any major disaster, while aiming to protect the marine environment on which we rely. In the area of environment, projects include the implementation of nature and marine reserves to protect biodiversity, and ambitious plans to introduce a significant number of trees to Qatar. Changes in the food security sector have been marked, with a transition from very limited local food production to a comprehensive food security strategy with 100% self-sufficiency in many products including meat, poultry, dairy, and many fruits and vegetables. Of course, food security relies entirely on sustainability in water and energy provision, making these areas inextricable.
With the energy-water-environment (EWE) nexus being such a critical aspect of sustainability, collaborations on a regional and international scale are important for pooling resources and putting the best minds in the field towards these challenges. The Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI)’s commitment towards finding solutions to the challenges faced by the nexus was at the core of the Institute’s flagship International Conference on Sustainable Energy-Water-Environment Nexus in Desert Climates (ICSEWEN21), which took place recently. More than 400 researchers and stakeholders from across the globe participated in 170 panel discussions, oral and poster presentations, as well as extensive networking over a virtual conferencing app, all focused on the interlinked aspects of the EWE nexus for the desert environment. While Qatar has significant resources to devote to research on the desert environment and its challenges, many of the most water-stressed regions in the world are far less developed and prosperous. It is therefore part of our responsibility to assist the global drylands in performing research that can help ensure water and food security in these regions. This includes the extensive research that is performed at HBKU, at QEERI, other Qatar Foundation entities, and indeed through collaboration across Qatar and internationally.
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