MEMO

To: Dr. Reza Trafeshi, Dr. Patrick Linke, Dr. Mary Queen, Dr. Naqaa Abbas
From: Team 4 (Muhammad Hanif, Joshua Silva, Noora Al Muhannadi, Hala Shadid, Mohammed Al
Diab)
Subject: Sustainability problems in Qatar
Date: 14 February 2023

Qatar has evolved substantially from the last decade, tackling various sustainability issues along the way. Qatar has
even created a framework for their development and named it Qatar 2030 Vision. However, there are still some
existing issues and this memorandum will talk about some of them. With the help of the listed professors above, our
team will use this memo as a point of reference when we finalize the problem of our choice.

Summary
Sustainability issues are difficult to solve because of how extensive they can get. Even though Qatar has come a
long way, they are still suffering from problems that are related to sustainability. From their use of fossil fuels to
their method of acquiring drinkable water by desalination, Qatar still needs to resolve these issues before it gets to
the point of no return.

Sustainability Problems
1. Desalination plants in Qatar heavily relies on fossil fuels to produce the sufficient energy for the water
purification process to take place. The use of fossil fuels leads to the production of a lot of CO2 emission.
Moreover, the waste products from the process are released back into the ocean, leading to higher
concentrations of brine, which is detrimental to marine biodiversity. The team plans to work with
desalination companies to research on alternatives to producing clean water, without its vast environmental
effects.

2. Given that Qatar has one of the world's fastest expanding economies, municipal solid waste is one of the
main issues the country faces. This is a result of a number of factors, including the nation's quick
urbanization, rapid industrial development, and economic growth. In Qatar, more than 2.5 million tons of
municipal solid waste are produced each year. It produces the most waste per capita of any nation. 40
percent of this solid waste is made up of things including glass, paper, metals, and plastic, with the
remaining nearly half being organic waste.

3. Qatar is known for its lack of greenery due to minimal rain which is caused by its humid climate and
temperatures reaching as high as 50 Degrees Celsius. Qatar rains an average of only around 60 mm per
year. Despite the harsh climate, the government has made significant efforts to increase the amount of
greenery in the country through initiatives such as the creation of parks, the introduction of drought-
resistant plants, innovative irrigation and water management techniques, and the development of vertical
gardens, rooftop gardens, and green walls. However, the government still faces challenges such as high
temperatures, limited water resources, and urbanization. Despite these challenges, the government remains
committed to finding solutions and ensuring that it remains a green and sustainable place to live for future
generations.

These are some issues relating to sustainability in Qatar that we have chosen as a potential problem when writing
our problem statement. By listing and identifying the root cause of the issues and who is affected by them, our team
will be able to come up with solutions that are clear and feasible. It is important that the problem we choose is
unambiguous because we need to understand the problem completely.