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These days world leaders are meeting in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) to shape how the poverty in the world can be reduced, social equity can be advanced and environmental protection on an ever more crowded planet can be ensured to get a livable future for everyone. The main theme of the Rio +20 Conference is “Green Economy” which is defined as an economy that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. |
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In the State of Qatar relevant principles of Green Economy are already addressed by the Qatar Vision 2030 (QV 2030). One of the four pillars of the QV 2030 is Environmental Development, which defines that any development in Qatar will be carried out with responsibility and respect, balancing the needs of economic growth and social development with the conditions for environmental protection development and environmental protection. The Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-2016 (QNDS 2011-2016) provides the needed plan that balances economic growth and environmental protection. It aims for a sustainable framework that assures future generations’ prosperty but with a quality of life unconstrained by shortages or inherited ecological damage.
To measure the progress towards sustainable development and to increase the awareness of the Qatari society concerning environment issues sound and reliable environment statistics are needed. Therefore, the Qatar Statistics Authority (QSA) recently has initiated several measures to improve the availability and quality of official environment statistics for both decision makers and the general public.. This activity will involve all relevant users and producers of environmental data in Qatar.
The overall goal of Official Environment Statistics of Qatar is to provide the foundation for evidence-based policy and decision making as well as awareness raising concerning environmental issues. Official Environment Statistics of Qatar should become part of the National Statistics System, in line with international standards and should be produced and disseminated on a regular basis. Official Environment Statistics should address the information needs of QNDS 2011-2016 as well as other national and international purposes related to environmental information in a coherent way.
QSA has already started to implement water statistics and water accounts, which will be followed by statistics on waste, air emissions, air quality and integrated environmental-economic accounts. First data disseminations are planned for early 2013.
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