Qatar managing air quality effectively

In addition to forty air quality monitoring stations currently installed in Qatar, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is set to launch 25...

In addition to forty air quality monitoring stations currently installed in Qatar, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is set to launch 25 more monitoring stations at roadsides to keep a continuous check on the quality of air in the country.

In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula, Abdulla Ali Al Khulaifi, Assistant Director Environment Monitoring and Environmental Inspection at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, said it is being ensured that air quality is protected from any pollution through specific standards stipulated in environmental legislation in the State of Qatar through continuous monitoring of ambient   air pollutants and measuring these pollutants in designated stations distributed throughout the country that operate continuously throughout the week to ensure the maintenance of air quality.

On Qatar’s efforts and the most important achievements accomplished to maintain air quality, he said that during recent years, many important achievements have been accomplished that have contributed to making a qualitative leap in preserving air quality in the State of Qatar.

“The most important of which was the adoption of Ministerial Resolution No. (310) of 2020 on air quality, which directly contributed to supporting the national network for monitoring air quality, identifying approved monitoring stations, and unifying operating procedures for all stations in the country in accordance with the highest international standards, which facilitated access to correct and accurate information about air quality. The launch of the air quality platform facilitates the public’s knowledge of air quality in a transparent, simple and accurate manner.”

Talking about challenges in maintaining and protecting air quality, he said that with the rapid development witnessed by the country in the economic, social and industrial fields, there are well-known challenges related to the increasing population density, rapid urban growth, projects related to infrastructure, and some important and large activities such as the FIFA World Cup 2022 and others, in addition to the nature of the desert region, and its exposure to extremely hot and humid weather in the summer.