Emissions profile
The energy sector contributes more than 90% to Qatar’s total GHG emissions.4 The combustion of fossil fuels in the industry, power, and transport sectors is responsible for more than half of the GHG emissions in the country. Fugitive emissions from energy industries such as oil and gas exploration account for about one-third of total GHG emissions. Emissions from industrial processes (6.2%), waste (1.1%) and agriculture (0.4%) make up Qatar’s remaining GHG emissions.
Emissions from several sectors have increased steeply over the past two decades, making Qatar one of the countries with the highest per capita GHG emissions.5,6
1 State of Qatar. Nationally Determined Contribution. 2021. NDC.pdf
2 US.Energy Information Administration. Country Analysis: Qatar. 2015.
3 World Bank. GDP (current 2010 US$) dataset. 2021.
4 Gütschow, J.; Günther, A.; Jeffery, L.; Gieseke, R. The PRIMAP-hist national historical emissions time series (1850-2018) (Version 2.2). Preprint at doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4479172 (2021).
5 Our World in Data. Where in the world do people emit the most CO2? 2019.
6 International Energy Agency. Energy data and statistics. 2021.
7 Sayeed, M. 2016. Qatar’s National Emission Inventory. Academia. 2016.
8 Krarti, M., Ali, F., Alaidroos, A. & Houchati, M. Macro-economic benefit analysis of large scale building energy efficiency programs in Qatar. International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment 6, 597–609 (2017).
9 IRENA. Regional Trends. 2022.
10 International Renewable Energy Agency. Statistics Time Series. 2021.
11 QatarEnergy. Sustainability Report 2020. 2020. 2020 Sustainability Report.pdf
12 International Trade Administration. Qatar Electric Vehicles Challenges and Opportunities. 2021.
13 IEA. CO2 Emissions Statistics. 2019.
14 Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. Qatar Second National Development Strategy 2018-2022. 2018.
15 Hassabou, A. M. & Khan, M. A. Energy Efficient & Sustainable Buildings: Integration with solar assisted air-conditioning technology in Qatar-A Step towards Grid Free Zero Carbon Living. (2018) doi:10.18086/eurosun2018.06.15.
16 Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. Qatar Second National Development Strategy 2018~2022. 2018.
17 Gas Exporting Countries Forum. Qatar (Member). 2019.
18 Bloomberg. King of LNG Undercuts Rivals to Keep Dominating World Market. 2021.
19 BBC News. Qatar Crisis: What you need to know. 2017.
20 Al-Buenain, A. et al. The Adoption of Electric Vehicles in Qatar Can Contribute to Net Carbon Emission Reduction but Requires Strong Government Incentives. Vehicles 3, 618–635 (2021).
21 International Trade Administration. Qatar Electric Vehicles Challenges and Opportunities. Market Intelligence. 2021.
Qatarʼs current GHG emissions
MtCO₂e/yr
By sector
- Fugitive emissions
- Industry (energy use)
- Power
- Transport
- Other
- Buildings
- Industry (processes)
- Waste
- Agriculture
- LULUCF
By gas
- CO₂
- CH₄
- N₂O
- Other
Sectors by gas
Energy
Agriculture
Industry (processes)
Energy system
GHG emissions in Qatar have increased steeply along with its rapid economic growth over the past two decades.3 As one of the largest exporters of oil and gas in the world,2 the increase in exploration of oil and gas has contributed significantly to Qatar’s increasing GHG emissions.
Electricity generation in Qatar is almost completely reliant on gas-fired power plants. As of 2015, the total installed power capacity in Qatar was approximately 9 GW.2 The installed capacity of renewable energy was 24 MW in 2021. Waste and biogas power plants made up the majority of the capacity (19MW), followed by solar (5MW).9,10 Primary energy supply in Qatar is also dominated by gas which contributes more than 80%, with the rest made up by oil.6
Targets and commitments
Economy-wide targets
Target type
NDC target
25% below BAU levels by 20301
No BAU scenario is provided in Qatar’s NDC document, Using a BAU range based on historical emissions trends and modelled pathways, we estimate that Qatar’s NDC aims for an emissions level of 147–213 MtCO₂e/yr excluding LULUCF.
Long-term target
Qatar has not yet released long-term targets but according to QatarEnergy’s 2020 Sustainability Report, the government will announce such details in the near future.11
Sector coverage
EnergyTransportGreenhouse gas coverage
CO₂CH₄N₂OSectoral targets
Energy
Qatar has not submitted any official communications to the UNFCCC that would include quantitative targets for any sector, however, state-owned petroleum company QatarEnergy released a Sustainability Strategy indicating some targets for the energy sector. These include:
- reducing methane intensity by 0.2% by 2025;
- reducing carbon intensity of LNG facilities by 25% and upstream operations by 15% compared to 2013 levels by 2030;
- installing CCS capacity to capture 9 MtCO₂/yr from LNG and upstream facilities by 2030;
- reducing routine gas flaring to zero by 2030.11
Power
- Qatar Energy’s Sustainability Strategy outlines that the country will add 2 to 4 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.11
Transport
- Qatar established an Electric Vehicle Strategy in 2021 setting a target of electrifying 25% of the country’s public bus transport fleet by 2022 and 100% by 2030.12