Posted by Celesa Horvath

Qatar has something every country needs. I’m not referring to oil or natural gas, although Qatar has both in abundance. I mean a national vision of and strategy for sustainable development.

In less than a generation, Qatar has experienced huge economic and social transformation.  The discovery and development of its hydrocarbon resources has fuelled – pardon the pun – Qatar’s economic growth from a small nation dependent on fishing and pearling to one of the highest per capita income countries in the world.

In the face of that rapid expansion, however, new challenges have emerged.  Qataris now need to balance modernization with the preservation of values and traditions, a priority in a country where 80% of the people are expatriates.  They must also figure out – as we all must – how to achieve economic and social equity for present and future generations while protecting environmental health.

Recognizing these challenges, Qatar embarked on an initiative to define the characteristics of the country’s future.  The State established the General Secretariat for Development Planning, which undertook multi-stakeholder consultation across Qatar.  The Qatar National Vision 2030 is the product of that initiative.

The Qatar National Vision 2030 rests on four pillars: human development; social development; economic development; and environmental development.

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Celesa Horvath is a consultant with some 20 years of experience in environmental assessment, regulatory affairs, corporate responsibility, and sustainability.  She's been involved in projects across Canada and internationally, including China and the Middle East, for clients in the energy, mining, infrastructure, transportation, and government sectors, providing both strategic advice and practical implementation support.  She strives for transformational corporate responsibility wherever possible. To learn more about the author or to view her other work, click here.

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