The state of Qatar witnessed a remarkable growth in population size and economic development in the past 20 years. Between the years of 2004 and 2024, Qatar registered an estimated 325% population growth leading to higher resource consumption, further resulting in higher demand for natural resources. On the one hand, the expansion in Qatar's population caused a challenge for the provision and distribution of Qatar's water and energy resources. On the other hand, Qatar's environmental and climate structure plays a critical role in intensifying securing the resources needed to meet its growth and development.  

As Qatar is a small peninsula located in the Arabian Gulf, it suffers from dry arid climate that places a huge strain on its water and food security. Prior to the GCC crisis, Qatar heavily relied on food imports, with an annual expenditure of over $430 million on importing food items mainly from the neighboring Gulf countries. With Qatar importing 80% of its food products from neighboring countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and with the state undergoing an international mega-project such as the 2024 World Cup, Qatar took immediate action towards resources utilization. Furthermore, the GCC blockade was a critical awakening for Qatar as it shed light on the need for local production, as well as diversifying Qatar's food trade routes. Since 2017, Qatar diversified its trade routes by looking outwards to the countries of ASEAN, as well as investing in its largest local agricultural company, Baladna Farm, to increase its self-sufficiency and utilizing its resources.          
            To begin with, Qatar presented its commitment towards sustainable development and climate change initiatives through being amongst the first countries in the region to sign and ratify the UN framework for climate change in 1996 followed by the signing of the Kyoto protocol in 2005, and signing the Paris Protocol for climate change agreement in 2016 and it was ratified in 2017. Along with that, Qatar hosted the COP18 in 2012 demonstrating further commitment to its role as a global player in issues related to climate change and sustainable development. In addition to partaking in global agreements, Qatar donated over $100 million to developing states to assist in their environmental challenges.     
            In the past, Qatar followed a linear economy model, one that produces and disposes its resources. Whereas today, Qatar strives towards a circular economy model, an economy model that utilizes and improves the use of materials and products by regenerating them back into the economy and follows what is known as the 3 Rs of the circular economy, Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse.  This model is vital for Qatar to achieve its sustainable development goals that were presented in Qatar's National Vision 2030. A circular economy has the potential to regenerate waste, and more importantly, can reduce the economic and environmental impacts of waste on the state economy and landscape in general. In addition to conserving waste, a study by the Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) Qatar estimated that states of the GCC have the potential to save up to $138 billion  in water, energy and waste management. In addition to that, the circular economy model in Qatar can generate an increase in Qatar's GDP by 17% while also yield over 19,000 jobs opportunities in sustainable development projects.     
            To implement the circular economy model, Qatar invested a number of state-led institutions that work on both research and development, as well as technical and productive jobs. Amongst the institutions that conduct research and development are Erthona, QUEERI and QSTP. This was achieved while simultaneously establishing a waste management that was successful in reusing over 99% of waste water, as well as establishing a solar energy plant called Siraj Energy that operates maintaining solar power facilities, and sells energy and electricity within the State of Qatar.  

 Policy Recommendations

Although Qatar has achieved a number of factors under the Qatar National Vision's sustainable development pillar, it is yet to improve institutional performance in resource allocation and consumption, as well as significantly reduce the society's use and waste of water and energy resources. This could be implemented through of a countercurrent approach. However, this could only be achieved through establishing primary sustainable development initiatives that follow the circular economy model through 5 main policy recommendations.   
            First, the creation of clear governmental frameworks that present and enforce sustainable policies. Sustainable policies can be enforced through an outline that dictates and presents laws that place a ceiling on the high  overconsumption trends of local water and energy in private spaces that range from domestic spaces to governmental and public commercial buildings.  
            Second, on a governmental level, the continuation of research and development projects on sustainable approaches for water, energy and agricultural produce is vital. Qatar is not only vulnerable in water, food and energy resources due to climate change, but it also vulnerable in the provision of these vital elements. This vulnerability acts as a challenge in times of population growth, state economic expansions, and makes the state of Qatar more dependent on the trade of water and food items.              
            Third, the agricultural sector in Qatar should be further invested in and developed. Although there is a number of small local farms that produce agricultural and poultry food items, the main food and dairy producer in Qatar is the Baladna Farm. In order for there to be a competitive market in the agricultural sector in Qatar, and for a wider variety of produce to be available for consumption, investment in local farms as well as clean technology would allow for agricultural market expansion.         
            Fourth, the recycling industry in Qatar leans more towards it being an initiative and optional approach rather than it being a compulsory and enforced approach. Recycling should be institutionalized and mandatory in high consuming sectors of paper, steel and wood. Furthermore, recycled material should be reproduced and made available for public purchase to encourage the community to recycle further.  
            Finally, a solid cultural shift in resource consumption can be achieved through educational initiatives. The public should be trained to read and understand the quantity of energy and water consumed in both the private households and public institutions. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education should issue manuals to be prescribed amongst public and private schools that educate students on current climate change challenges and encourage students to engage in sustainable, ecological and climate change projects.