Experts Discuss Advancing Climate Statistics in Qatar

Doha, December 05 (QNA) -Statistics experts and specialists have discussed the importance and role of official statistics and data on climate change, as well as their means of development through national efforts in the environmental field. Participants in the workshop, held concurrently with the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 18), included experts from the State of Qatar, Finland, Austria, Mexico and the African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) in attendance of a number of representatives from concerned local bodies. The workshop was conducted to discuss how official statistics contribute to climate data through national and international offers in this field, Director of Population and Social Statistics Department at the Qatar Statistics Authority (QSA) Sultan Al Kuwari said. During his speech at the workshop, Al Kuwari added that the QSA aims to showcase the link between official statistics and the need for data on climate change as well as determining main data on the environment and addressing the role of national statistics offices. QSA aims to develop the environmental framework in accordance with international demand and UN standards through its strategy, he indicated. This calls for a deeper understanding of concepts and terminology in addition to calculation methods, the QSA official added. Director of the Population and Social Statistics Department at QSA Sultan Al Kuwari indicated that the Authority has made major achievements providing primary data for development strategies in the context of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) from 2013-2018. The Authority eyes requirements for the hosting of the Qatar's World Cup as it operates, he said, adding that it follows the Qatar National Development Strategy (QNDS) 2011-2016 ensuring the availability of its requirements. QSA has begun, starting last May, to cooperate with national authorities concerned with the revision of current environmental statistics for improvement and applying international standards related to sorting data and statistics. The QSA has set priorities for required data; environmental quality and resources, emissions, crises, human environment and environmental health. This framework will form the structure for data gathering from a number of sources. The QSA s interest in environmental indicators keeps it in line with the States’ efforts in preserving and maintaining the environment eventually reaching its sustainability. Environmental development is among the four Pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030; "Management of the environment such that there is harmony between economic growth, social development and environmental protection." (QNA)