In the Name of God Most Compassionate Most Merciful
Mr. Chairman ;
Your Excellencies ;
Ladies and Gentlemen :
On behalf of the State of Qatar, it is my pleasure to thank the Secretary
General of the United Nations for his informative report in document
E/CN.17/2006/3 which constitutes an important background paper for the work of
this session . I would equally like to thank the United Nations Commission on
Sustainable Development for the effort exerted on both the global and regional
levels, and for the preparations for the 14 th session. This session is of special
importance given the theme that it will address, namely the review of progress
achieved in the implementation of the Johannesburg Program of Action, and of the
challenges restricting the effective and speedy progress in combating poverty and
spurring the economic development of the developing countries .
Mr. Chairman,
The energy sector can play an important role in this endeavor, particularly if
efforts were geared to creating equal opportunities for cooperation and partnerships
among all countries irrespective of the level of their economic or industrial
development . In his report, the Secretary General stressed the importance of the
energy sector, and the pivotal role it plays in all aspects of the development process .
He also underscored the importance of searching for adequate and immediate
solutions to provide energy services to developing countries . Over 2 .5 billion people
around the world continue to rely on primitive means to satisfy their daily needs of
energy, which negatively impact both health and the environment, and precipitate the
process of desertification .
It is widely believed that fossil fuels would continue to account for at least
80% of the world's total energy consumption until 2030 . It therefore follows that
sustainable development in all its aspects will continue to be significantly linked to
the availability of clean energy and highly efficient technologies necessary to
develop resources in producing countries on one hand, and to the level of
consumption in consuming countries on the other . Natural gas will also continue to
be of great importance, particularly in the Field of power generation and industrial
and household use given the advantages it has for the environment and its industrial
safety when compared to other sources of energy such as coal and nuclear power . It
is estimated that natural gas will account for at least 24% of the total world energy
consumption .
It gives me pleasure to recall in this regard the results of the International
Symposium on Natural Gas and Sustainable Development held in Doha, Qatar from
6-8 February 2006 . The Symposium was co-organized by the Ministry of Energy and
Industry and the United Nations Division on Sustainable Development in the context
of the preparations' for this session .
The Symposium identified the importance and the strategic dimension of
natural gas in achieving the Millennium Development Goals particularly with regard
to raising the living standards and alleviating poverty in Developing Countries as
outlined in the Johannesburg Plan .
150 participants representing 37 countries, including senior officials,
government policy makers and United Nations representatives, attended the Seminar .
The Seminar addressed the technical, institutional and financial aspects of
developing natural gas resources and marketing it globally as a reliable, affordable
and environmentally sound form of energy .
The Symposium underscored the environmental qualities of natural gas, which
are related to lower greenhouse gas emissions . In its recommendations, the
Symposium stressed that natural gas is a cleaner source of energy and a strong
vehicle for socio-economic development in both producing and consuming countries .
Moreover, it recommended that natural gas be supported at the level of the World
Trade Organization given the fact that it is a clean and favorable commodity for
sustainable development .
The Symposium also recommended that more attention be given to
technological research and development in the field of gas production, processing
and transport, whether in its liquid or nature form . This promoted the State of Qatar
to step up investments in all these aspects in order to provide the world with a
cleaner energy . That was Qatar's way of effectively contributing to strengthening the
three dimensions of sustainable development, namely economic and social
development and the protection of the environment .
We look forward to the discussion of the practical steps that the international
community will undertake tin the field of the sustainable development of natural gas
as indicated in the report on conclusions and recommendations of the Symposium in
document E/CN. 17/2006/1l .
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
