Experts seek specialised courses for environment inspectors to enforce laws
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change should re-qualify its environment inspectors through specialised training courses in related fields, in addition to proper methods of dealing with the public on how to address common environmental violations and accordingly enforce the laws and regulations, a number of experts in the field have suggested.
Speaking to local Arabic daily Arrayah recently, they said there are a number of issues to be addressed by the newly created ministry to maintain the wellbeing of the local environment and said that its inspectors will be among the main drivers of the efforts to enhance the local environment and to avoid any potential violations. The experts noted that the inspectors should be more active during the winter camping season as there is additional pressure on some areas and natural resources due to the improper conduct of some campers. They also stressed the importance of climate change as one of the most key issues at both the global and local levels, suggesting that the ministry co-ordinate its efforts in this regard with international entities concerned. Accordingly, the ministry should also update all available environmental studies and data.
Environmental expert Mohamed al-Jaidah said the main role of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is supervisory in nature, which also entails monitoring the environmental aspects of the Ministry of Municipality. So, the creation of this new ministry will help enforce laws and regulations aimed at the preservation of the local environment. He said the ministry should pay special attention to marine environment and reconsider previous suggestions to create marine reserves and protectorates. He added that inspectors of the new ministry should be trained to address all such issues.
Dr Jassim al-Khayyat, manager of research vessel ‘Janan’ under the Qatar University Environmental Science Centre, said the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has a lot of work to do in terms of the land, air and marine environment. For instance, he said, the coral reef has unfortunately been exposed to some damage over the past few years due to digging and dumping of debris caused by some seaside construction projects. He stressed that the role of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change involves exercising control on such projects, to ensure the well-being of the local environment.
Dr Rashid al-Kuwari, an environmental expert, said the ministry will have a key role in taking part in related international conferences and forums and co-ordinating efforts to combat the consequences of climate change, in addition to its control efforts on local projects to ensure compliance with environmental standards.