Qatar Attaches Great Importance to Future Generation, Says Fahad Al Attiyah

Doha, November 27 (QNA) - The Chairman of the Organising Sub-Committee for COP18/CMP8 Fahad Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah has stressed that Qatar, under the leadership of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, attaches great importance to the future generation. Al Attiyah was speaking during a daily press briefing at the Qatar National Convention Centre, where negotiations for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, 2012 are taking place. Along with providing important information about organisational issues, Al Attiyah said that Qatar is seeking to transform its economy from the dependency on oil and gas to the knowledge-based economy. "We are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change," said Al Attiyah, who noted that careful environmental development is one of the four pillars in Qatar's ambitious plans set out in the National Vision 2030. At Tuesday's press briefing, Al Attiyah offered useful facts and figures, including how 7,000 members of observer organisations have registered to participate in COP18/CMP8 Doha, and more than 30 regional civil society groups are participating. About 12,000 people are in Doha for the conference and more are expected to join when the high-level segment begins next week. He said that 440 buses were allocated to transport delegates. These buses have been operating since 19th of this month for the sessions that preceded the opening of the Conference, he said, adding that 36 centers were identified as confluence points to provide transportation for delegations, mostly in hotels and that waiting period is between 20 and 30 minutes, considering that any delay that may happen as an exceptional case. "The eVisa system has worked very well," Al Attiyah said while extending his thanks to the Ministry of Interior for its efforts, referring to the automatic visa system put in place by the host country, Qatar, for this year's sessions. Organisers of COP18/CMP8 used the press conference to highlight some of the environmental events going on, not only within the QNCC but also around Doha. These include an environmental film series held together with the Doha Film Institute, with showings in Katara cultural village. Al Attiyah also informed the audience that a professor on sustainable development would be delivering a lecture tonight at Katara. Al Attiyah responded to questions about media registration, transportation and food services within the QNCC, providing useful information and assuring the individuals who posed the questions that their concerns would be addressed by his team. (QNA)