While Qatar’s overall energy consumption has risen significantly in the past two decades, the rise in energy consumption by residential and commercial buildings has been moderate. In 2018, the share of residential and commercial buildings in total final energy consumption in Qatar was 12%.⁶

Qatar’s building sector is already nearly electrified, with electricity already accounting for 94% of energy demand in the sector. Under 1.5°C analysed pathways, electricity share is projected to increase to 99% by 2050 of the sector’s total final energy demand.

As a country located in dry tropical climate zone, space cooling accounts for a major share of electricity demand (60–80%) in buildings in Qatar.¹⁵ The potential increase in emissions will therefore come not only from electricity consumption but also an increase in HFCs from air-conditioning. A scientific study published in 2017 showed that implementing an optimal set of energy efficiency measures (including both building renovations and appliance retrofitting) in new and existing buildings in Qatar can save 60% in both annual energy consumption and electricity peak demand, and significantly reduce carbon emissions.⁸ This could be achieved through innovative financing mechanisms to incentivise improvements of building envelopes, and by strengthening building codes.

Qatar’s Second National Development Strategy (2018-2022) outlined that Qatar will issue a Green Building Code as part of its efforts to increase energy efficiency. To achieve this, Qatar aims to promote integrated water and electricity management in households through the so-called Tarsheed Program.¹⁶

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.