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In 2008, the Government created its first national strategic document for future development, the Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV). It defines trends that reflect the aspirations, objectives, and culture of the people of Qatar. According to the QNV, the main goal is to transform Qatar into an advanced country by 2030, capable of sustaining its own development and providing for a high standard of living for future generations. Four main developmental pillars are analysed: human, social, economic, and environmental.

Other aspects of the QNV include Qatar’s desire to play a larger role in the economics, politics, and culture of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. It is also cognizant of maintaining a balance between development needs and protecting the environment.

The targeted objectives of the environmental development pillar include a balance between development needs and protecting the environment through:
• A comprehensive urban development plan for Qatar that adopts a sustainable policy with regard to urban expansion and population distribution.
• Encouragement of regional cooperation with GCC states.
• A proactive and significant regional role in assessing the impact of climate change and mitigating its negative impacts.

The QNDS (Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-2016) programs and projects reflect national development priorities related to the development pillars set out in the QNV. To this regard, the QNDS outlines the following specific goals:
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• Environmental Development: Qatar aims to establish an environmental management system, consistent with economic growth, encourage rationalisation of water consumption and preserve scarce resources through sustainable use. The Government is committed to improve air quality, reduce waste and increase recycling, extend utmost effort to protect the country's national heritage and biodiversity, develop positive attitudes and values on the environment and participate in regional and international cooperation programs that encourage green technology.

(…) With one of the highest standards of living, and substantial economic growth, Qatar is keen to use its growing energy wealth to invest in its future and diversify its economy away from hydrocarbons towards a knowledge-based economy. It is investing in its people by improving education, infrastructure, and healthcare, promoting innovation and sustainable development, and continuing its policy toward international cooperation and openness.

According to Qatar National Vision 2030, Qatar intends to pursue responsible exploitation of oil and gas. To this end, it plans to establish a balance between reserves and production, and between economic diversification and the degree of depletion. It also intends to pursue technological innovations and fully develop the gas industry to provide clean energy. Long-term maintenance of its reserves is important for national security and sustainable development.

Amongst the most important contributions, QNV (Qatar National Vision 2030) includes a general framework from which more detailed strategies and operational plans can be prepared. The vision thus contained aims to transform Qatar into a diversified, well-established and well-developed nation by 2030. Ultimately, Qatar is expected to be able to sustain its own development drive whilst providing a high standard of living for generations to come. The vision includes five major challenges that Qatar must balance:
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• The needs of this generation and the needs of future generations.
• Manageable growth and controllable expansion.
• The size and the quality of the expatriate labour force and the selected path of development.
• Economic growth, social development and environmental management.

The former Emir-H.H. Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani-provided additional insights into the challenges of development, particularly in Qatar: “Development, in its broader sense, and the economic, environmental, technological and resource-related challenges encountering its realization have become an issue that determines the survival, role and progress of any society.” (…)

Qatar seeks to define natural gas and its derivates as environmental goods in the committee on Trade and Environment. To this respect, it has submitted documentation to the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment as well as the Negotiating Group of Market Access. Defining natural gas an environmental good would further expand and facilitate world trade, trigger cross-border investment and help address global environmental challenges. Qatar attaches great importance to development challenges related to food security and, consequently, is of the view that food security concerns should override other “narrow commercial interests”.

(…) Within the WTO, Qatar has been negotiating an initiative at the committee on Trade and Environment concerning the definition of natural gas and its derivatives as an environmental good, thereby seeking to further facilitate world trade.