Doha, March 08 (QNA) - Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, attended the opening ceremony of the Earthna Summit 2023 at Msheireb Downtown Doha.

The theme of the two-day Summit is "Building New Sustainability Pathways for Hot and Arid Environments". Sustainability discussions have typically revolved around tropical and temperate needs.

The Earthna Summit aims to make hot and arid environments such as Qatar's more prominent in the global conversation by highlighting the critical adaptation needs of countries with such climates, and exploring options as the world moves towards energy transition.

Speakers at the inaugural Summit, hosted by Qatar Foundation's Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, include HE President of the Republic of Zambia Hakainde Hichilema, HE President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio, HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al-Thani, and HE Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani. A number of Their Excellencies sheikhs and Ministers also attended the inauguration.

The summit brings together sustainability experts and policymakers including indigenous peoples to learn from each other and exchange knowledge.

The Summit aims to renew focus on examining ancestral solutions to climate challenges and how these may support current plans for advancing sustainability.

In her speech at the opening of the Summit, HE Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani, said: "At this inaugural Earthna Summit, we have deliberately placed a significant emphasis on exploring indigenous practices, in search of the fountains of accumulated wisdom tucked away in ordinary places. The purpose of seeking out indigenous wisdom is for us to discern and choose wisely that which resonates in our local environment, so that we may adopt simple whole solutions instead of complicating things. And so that, when we adopt new policies, we can attack the root causes of our modern issues, instead of getting lost in the branches."

For his part, HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al-Thani said: "The Earthna Summit 2023 will provide us with an opportunity to build a community of environmental stakeholders that will contribute to shaping the future of sustainability in hot and dry regions. The Summit provides us with a platform to highlight hot and dry countries that are often absent from global discussions related to climate change. The Summit will also focus on the unique challenges faced by these countries with difficult weather conditions. And these are the challenges that Qatar is committed to addressing, and sharing the best solutions and practices on how to overcome them with neighboring countries and other countries of the world."

Earthna is hosting a variety of sessions, workshops and panel discussions based on themes of food and security adaptation; climate change and energy transition; resilient cities; and biodiversity.
Among other prominent experts, academics, and officials, was renowned primatologist and anthropologist Dr. Jane Goodall who closed the first day of the Summit with a discussion about biodiversity, ecosystems and values.

Throughout the two-day summit, members of the public can visit the 'Earthna Village' at Barahat Msheireb, a sustainability-focused exhibition showcasing indigenous and sustainable practices.

The agora section of the Earthna Village is hosting practitioners for short, interactive discussions with the audience about their exhibits.

(QNA)