DOHA: United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) Dr Rania Al Mashat has hailed Qatar’s leadership in advancing sustainable development, digital transformation, and multilateral cooperation while calling for deeper collaboration between ESCWA and the country to accelerate progress across the Arab region.
In an interview with QNA, Dr Al Mashat described Qatar as a key regional partner in promoting sustainable development and reaffirmed ESCWA’s commitment to expanding cooperation in areas such as social protection, digital transformation, innovation, strategic planning, artificial intelligence, statistics, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She said her visit to Doha reflects the longstanding partnership between ESCWA and Qatar and included meetings with senior Qatari officials to discuss advancing the sustainable development agenda at both regional and international levels. The discussions also focused on enhancing the exchange of expertise and technical knowledge to support development initiatives across the Arab world.
Dr Al Mashat praised Qatar’s active role in fostering multilateral cooperation and highlighted its continued support for the Palestinian cause and efforts to promote peace and regional stability. She stressed the importance of sustaining initiatives that address shared challenges while strengthening regional cooperation.
Commenting on Qatar’s development achievements, she said the country has made significant progress in implementing its sustainable development agenda and has demonstrated a strong commitment to solidarity and multilateral action despite the complex challenges facing the region.
We stand at a cross-roads. Unsustainable growth is driving us towards climate catastrophe, while inequitable growth is fuelling increased poverty, increased marginalisation and increased anger. Our learning in India is that growth that is not affordable or, in other words, equitable, cannot be sustainable.
Consider air pollution. Delhi has become synonymous with toxic air. This is not for want of action. All coal plants have been shut; pet coke import (incidentally which the US exports because it is too toxic for local use) has been banned; and we are moving towards the cleanest fuels and vehicle technologies. But it is not good enough. Each winter, pollution returns with a vengeance. My colleagues estimate that air pollution in Delhi has fallen by 25 per cent over the past three years, as compared to the previous three; but levels still need to decline by 65 per cent to get what you can call, clean air. And this is when air pollution is a great equaliser. It does not differentiate between the rich and the poor; between the rural and urban populations. This is different from water pollution, where the rich can turn to bottled water. The middle-classes of the city may buy air purifiers, but they still breathe in the same airshed that contains toxins from the cars of the rich as well as the biomass-based stoves of the poor.
This is where the question of what we do next, becomes critical. We can continue to do what the rest of the world has done to combat pollution from each vehicle: improve the quality of fuel and even consider moving to electric vehicles. But these incremental actions would keep us spending and keep us behind the pollution crisis. The reason is simple: today, less than 20 per cent of my city drive in cars to work; roughly 25 per cent own cars. But these 25 per cent vehicle owners take 90 per cent of the road space. The question is, if the demand of just 20 per cent leads to huge congestion and pollution, where and how can the city find the road and air space for all?
This is where the environmentalism of the poor kicks in. Adding a few buses or trams or metros won’t work; we need to transform mobility so that it works both for the rich and the poor. This will mean combining affordability and convenience and safety.
Transformative action is also needed in case of energy. Today, many households in my world still use biomass to cook food. Women are exposed to toxic air pollutants. The problem is this pollution, which is killing poor people, is also contaminating the airshed of the rich and those owning SUVs. So, if we want clean air, we will first have to get the rich out of their polluting vehicles, but we will also have to ensure that the poor women get options to move out of dirty fuels. The opportunity is enormous. If we reinvent for transformative action, we can provide them viable, affordable options to leapfrog—from non-fossil dirty fuels, not to fossil, but to non-fossil clean fuels. This is where the world needs leadership so that finance for the energy transition is concessional and provides the opportunity to scale up the system for the poorest in the world.
The challenge of climate change reflects a similar tension. In 1990, my colleague Anil Agarwal and I argued in our publication Global Warming in an Unequal World that the world could not combat climate change without a fair and equitable agreement. Today, the same issue is on the table. If solutions cannot meet the needs of all—are equitable—they will not work.
Events in our world are spiraling out of control. Every year, we are told, is the hottest on record until the next year arrives and breaks that record. It is getting worse: from forest fires, to increasing frequency and intensity of storms, to blistering cold waves and scorching heat. The most inconvenient truth is that at current rates of emissions, the world will run out of the carbon budget—how much it can emit to keep temperature rise below 1.5°C—by 2030. Vast numbers of people still do not have access to basic energy; they need to grow and need energy for development. This is why we need cooperation so that future development can be low carbon for all.
It is clear that increasing numbers of disasters will make the poor, poorer. Their impoverishment and marginalisation will add to their desperation to seek alternative livelihoods. Their only choice will be to migrate—move to the city; move to another country. This will add to the already volatile situation, making our world insecure and violent. This is the cycle of destructive change that we must fight. Our globalised world is inter-connected and inter-dependent, we must recognise this. Sustainable development is not possible if it is not equitable. Growth has to be affordable and inclusive for it to be sustainable. But all this will not happen unless we articulate that the environmental challenge is not technocratic but political. We cannot neuter politics of access, justice and rights and hope to fix environment or indeed development.
A Saudi man looks at solar panels in Uyayna, north of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Apr. 10, 2018. (Reuters)
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The international community is at a critical moment when it comes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which were endorsed in 2015 with the aim of eradicating poverty and protecting the planet via 17 interconnected goals and 169 targets.
Key progress has been made in areas such as access to education, healthcare, renewable energy and digital innovation. Nevertheless, the chances of achieving the overall goals by the target of 2030 are fading.
The international community is significantly off track on progress toward many goals for four reasons: conflicts, economic volatility, the impacts of climate change, and the increasing inequalities between the wealthy and poor.
Based on recent assessments, including the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals Report and the SDG Index, only about 35 percent of SDG targets are on track or showing some progress. Nearly half are going forward too slowly and about 18 percent are seeing outright reversals compared to 2015 baselines.
Most progress can be witnessed in socioeconomic areas, while the shortcomings are linked to environmental goals and systemic inequalities.
There are challenges but several countries and regions have shown that targeted policies and investments can produce meaningful results. For example, East and South Asia have shown the fastest overall progress since 2015. This is mainly driven by rapid advancements in poverty reduction, education and infrastructure.
When it comes to the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a compelling example of national ambition being aligned with the SDGs through its Vision 2030. The Kingdom has made notable gains in renewable energy as it diversifies away from oil dependency.
Several countries have shown that targeted policies and investments can produce meaningful results.
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh
For example, its massive solar initiatives — including building one of the world’s largest solar farms — support both SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
Saudi Arabia has also invested heavily in education and healthcare, improving both access and quality, which contributes to gains in SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education). Reports state that Saudi Arabia has improved its SDG Index score by 8.1 percentage points, with particularly strong performance in areas like poverty reduction (SDG 1).
The UAE has similarly advanced thanks to its efforts in leveraging innovation hubs and green finance to address multiple goals simultaneously.
Africa has shown resilience amid many obstacles. For example, Ethiopia and Benin have recorded some of the strongest gains. This has largely been achieved through socioeconomic indicators like health and education access.
Rwanda has become a model for postconflict recovery and digital innovation, with strong progress in healthcare and gender equality. And Kenya has capitalized on its tech-savvy youth entrepreneurship and renewable energy investments.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, countries like Costa Rica, Chile and Uruguay continue to make progress, particularly in biodiversity protection and social policies. Brazil has pursued climate and social protection initiatives, reaching about 19 percent of its targets.
European nations, particularly the Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden and Denmark), are at the top of the overall SDG Index rankings. This is mainly due to their strong institutions, social welfare systems and green policies. However, even they face challenges, including regarding consumption patterns and international spillovers affecting poorer nations.
These countries reveal that progress is possible and that it has been made when countries align their national strategies with global goals and when these goals are supported by public investment and innovation.
But there are still many challenges to overcome. For instance, conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and parts of Africa have devastated infrastructure, displaced populations and reversed gains in fighting poverty and improving healthcare. Debt burdens in developing countries have widened financing gaps. Climate change is also exacerbating existing vulnerabilities through extreme weather.
There are still inequalities both within and between countries. Gender disparities persist. Environmental targets such as climate action (SDG 13) show the slowest progress globally.
To be realistic, comprehensively achieving all the SDGs by the deadline appears unlikely taking into account the current pace. Projections suggest that many countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and conflict zones, will fall short.
However, this should not discourage us. Even partial successes and accelerated action in the remaining time could transform millions of lives. This can be done by more governments integrating the SDGs into their national budgets and development plans.
Governments should prioritize expanding social protections, investing in green infrastructure and reforming education systems to promote digital and green skills.
Even partial successes and accelerated action in the remaining time could transform millions of lives.
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh
International organizations like the UN, World Bank and International Monetary Fund should enhance their financing mechanisms, debt relief and technical assistance for poor and vulnerable nations.
Finally, the private sector can play a key role through responsible investment. Companies involved in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Kenya’s tech ecosystem exemplify this powerful potential.
While achieving all the SDGs by the 2030 deadline appears unlikely, the progress made so far in countries from Saudi Arabia and the UAE to Ethiopia, India and Costa Rica proves that persistence, determination and intelligent policies can deliver results. The international community can still salvage and amplify gains, but political will is urgently needed.
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian-American political scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadeh
The Diriyah Biennale Foundation launched a new international architecture competition at the iconic Western Hajj Terminal that celebrates the architectural legacy of Muslim societies. The AlMusalla Prize reimagines future spaces of worship as modular, empowering, and transient. It not only pushes the paradigms on sustainable design and cutting-edge technology, but also emphasizes opportunities for dialogue and community building, reclaiming the true essence of a musalla space. The winning proposal by EAST Architecture Studio in collaboration with artist Rayyane Tabet and engineers AKT II features a structure inspired by regional weaving traditions and relies on waste materials derived from local date palm trees. The design consists of an open central courtyard and prayer spaces that form a structure that resembles a loom, addressing togetherness and proximity, which are core dimensions of prayer in Islam. This adaptable structure will be accessible to all visitors throughout the Biennale’s run.
On Weaving, winner of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation’s inaugural AlMusalla Prize, reconciles the historic and contemporary, giving new life to the ancient architectural traditions of Islamic prayer.
It brings together the legacy of courtyard typologies in places of worship, the tradition of using date palm trees as a building material in Saudi Arabia, and the art of weaving, referencing ancient textile making techniques that are indigenous to the Gulf region.
Set within the Western Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, the gateway for pilgrims to Mecca and Medina, the design of the modular musalla; meaning a space for prayer; is an exemplary study in materiality, craft, contextuality and communality.
Created for the Islamic Arts Biennale in January 2025, the musalla is designed and engineered by EAST Architecture Studio in collaboration with international engineering firm AKT II, and Beirut and San Francisco-based artist Rayyane Tabet.
Not shy in scale to the vast semi-conical vents of the Hajj Terminal’s roof above, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the musalla’s grand, modular date palm structure pays homage to Saudi Arabia’s culture and climate. Date palm, one of the region’s most prevalent natural resources, usually a waste product, is here used in abundance – creating a truly carbon-negative structure.
Drawing on regional craft and the tradition of weaving, the structure’s open central courtyard and woven-like prayer spaces evoke a loom, while its facades weave together palm fronds and fibers. Gaps in the translucent facades conduct and diffuse the light.
Set within a landscape grid inspired by the layout of palm-tree plantations, used for shade by local populations for millennia, the musalla is in dialogue with the wider desert environment.
Conversations continue back in the generous, communal central courtyard, whilst the prayer spaces, more contained, create a meditative atmosphere. Modular and multifunctional, the musalla, which can be dismantled and reassembled, will have a future life after the Biennale in Jeddah and beyond.
Imagine a perfect summer weekend day: a cloudless blue sky with a gentle breeze. Solar panels are at full capacity, wind turbines are turning offshore – and many people are out and about, in gardens or parks. Electricity supply is high, but demand is low.
Electricity systems must balance supply and demand in real time. In the above scenario, when renewables are producing lots of electricity but there isn’t much demand, energy companies may need to curtail output – disconnecting their turbines or panels from the grid, and essentially wasting clean energy that could have been generated. Hours later, when demand rises, that energy is no longer available.
In the UK, wind farms are already being paid to switch off on days when supply outstrips demand. Similar curtailment of renewable generation already happens regularly in places with lots of solar power such as California, Spain or Australia. As renewable energy continues to grow – and in the UK’s case, as cheap plug-in solar panels become available – this could happen a lot more often.
For example, April 22 2026 was a sunny day in the UK, with moderate wind. Solar generation reduced the demand for gas-generated electricity to almost zero. Had the wind speed been any higher, there could have been more electricity generation than demand.
The limits of supply and storage
One option would be to control the supply to try and match demand. When electricity mostly came from fossil fuels, this was easy enough – power plants would just burn less coal or gas. But you can’t control the weather, and you certainly can’t keep sunlight in a pile of fuel to use later. The electricity it generates is either used, stored or lost.
Another option would be to simply store that excess electricity until it’s needed. There are lots of approaches available, ranging from huge battery banks to pumped-storage hydro schemes that store energy by pumping water uphill before generating electricity when needed. Millions of electric car batteries could even become part of the grid.
But all these technologies remain expensive and limited in capacity. Not all surplus power can be saved for later.
Without other solutions, this mismatch can increase reliance on fossil fuels at times of high demand. The UK’s National Energy System Operator (Neso) recently warned it will need to use “more tools, more often” to keep the grid stable.
A simpler solution
A third option is to shift when people use electricity.
The use of renewable energy has made balancing the grid depend not just on supply – weather conditions – but on user behaviour. If people consume electricity when renewable energy is available, there would be less need for other sources of energy or for big investments in energy storage. That’s why shifting electricity demand is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to balance the grid.
Smart meters are already able to vary electricity prices throughout the day. In our summer weekend scenario, when electricity is cheap and plentiful but demand is minimal, a smart meter might advise you that prices have gone right down – or even turned negative – creating an incentive to heat water, wash clothes or charge electric cars. In effect, households would be paid to absorb excess renewable energy.
This would encourage people to install smart meters and change when they use electricity. It should be particularly useful for low-income households. And at the national level such payments can be cheaper overall than investments in energy storage or curtailing wind or solar farms and unleashing them later.
Paying people to use electricity may sound odd, but it represents the cost of keeping the system balanced.
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