The Shura Council State of Qatar

The Shura Council stressed on Thursday its belief in the significant role played by parliamentarians and their substantial contributions to national plans and strategies, as well as promoting popular participation, noting the great support and special care entrusted by HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the Shura Council out of His Highness belief in the importance of popular participation in decision-making.

This came in a statement marking the International Day of Parliamentarism, celebrated every year on June 30, the date in 1889 on which the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) was founded. The Day was established in 2018 through a United Nations General Assembly Resolution, recognizing the role of parliamentarians in national plans and strategies and ensuring greater transparency and accountability at the global and local levels.

This year's International Day of Parliamentarism coincides with the Parliaments for the Planet campaign, launched by the IPU earlier this year, to encourage parliaments to achieve progress regarding climate agreements and treaties and to accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions.

The Shura Council expressed its pride and appreciation for the Qatari people for their interaction with the issues discussed by the council and for their positive engagement and communication with them by presenting proposals and initiatives.

The Council congratulated all the parliamentarians of the world on this annual occasion, stressing the importance of cooperation and joint parliamentary action in a way that enhances the safety of the planet and preserves it from natural and human threats.

The statement reviewed the Shura Council's efforts in that regard to enhance the exchange of experiences between parliaments and to provide a model for best practices.

In this context, the council drew attention to its efforts in line with the pledges and commitments of the State of Qatar to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 24%, to use 20% of solar energy by 2030, and its keenness to implement measures to conserve resources to prevent waste and to achieve sustainability.

At the legislative level, the statement highlighted the draft laws and topics that the council discussed during the previous session to protect the environment and its support for all efforts in this regard, praising the contributions of various state agencies in this field.

The statement reviewed the efforts of the State of Qatar and its keenness to diversify energy sources away from oil and gas by switching to renewable energy, and its participation in establishing the Net-Zero Producers Forum (NZPF), which works to support the goals of member states in the transition to clean energy.

The statement also reviewed what the State of Qatar showed during the hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as the first carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup, stressing that this is a testament to its commitment to addressing climate change.

At the conclusion of the statement, the Shura Council affirmed, in response to popular aspirations, its keenness to coordinate with the government to achieve common goals in increasing the use of renewable and clean energy as alternative and environmentally friendly sources, by exercising its legislative and oversight powers.