Qatar Has Big Ambitions, Cooperates with Proved Entities: QF Official

Doha, December 05 (QNA) - Qatar Foundation's (QF) President of Research and Development Faisal Al Suwaidi has expressed his pleasure at signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Germany's Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in the field of climate research and the annual Doha forum that will be launched in this regard. Speaking at a joint press conference with PIK Director Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, Al Suwaidi said Qatar is a small country with a small population but has big ambitions and thoughts. Al Suwaidi said that as a U.N. member, Qatar seeks to mitigate the effects of climate change in accordance with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the country's strategy for scientific research, which stressed the necessity to exert all efforts in these sectors and build international partnerships about them. Based on the directives of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Al Suwaidi said QF seeks to cooperate and partner with "proven" entities, including "this prestigious institution," pointing to Qatar's interest in scientific research, to which 2.8% of the GDP is allocated. For his part, Schellnhuber said signing the MoU is a "significant event" as he hailed Qatar's role and initiatives in researching and combating climate change, stressing however that it has become a major pillar in addressing climate change issues. According to the partnership, a climate change research institute will be established and a climate change forum will be launched. Qatar decided to join this partnership with PIK due to freshwater scarcity, global warming and the waves of hurricanes and summer high temperatures in the Gulf region, Schellnhuber said. PIK Director noted that Qatar prepared an ambitious national vision, diagnosed all the problems and seeks knowledge-based society and economy, in addition to analyzing policies, transferring knowledge and technologies, and benefiting from alternative energy, which were the bases of establishing the climate research institute in Doha He said the economic and natural resources at Qatar's disposal and its climate change initiatives will help it get closer to a new cultural shift, setting an example for other countries in this area. (QNA)