Doha: Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al-Thani inaugurated the "Environmental Pioneers" initiative, which aims at involving individuals and institutions in countering the challenges of climate change as well as preserving natural environment and biodiversity in the State of Qatar.

His Excellency said in remarks on the occasion, that the "Environmental Pioneers" initiative contributes to supporting those concerned with environmental affairs, and encourages them to continue their efforts to preserve the Qatari environment, calling on all citizens and residents interested in preserving the local environment to join the initiative, which His Excellency will oversee.

The launch of the initiative included the creation of a special electronic service on the official website of the Ministry, providing an overview of the initiative, the names of environmental pioneers in the State of Qatar and the initiatives they have presented to serve environmental issues in the country.

The initiative aims to protect and improve the environmental situation in the country, strengthen the mechanism of joint action on environmental issues, raise awareness of challenges related to sustainability and climate change, and appreciate and support the contributions of individuals and leading institutions in the field of environment and climate change, in addition to stimulating community participation to counter the challenges of climate change, and enhancing the contribution of society segments to achieving the environmental development pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030.

Separately, HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al-Thani visited Olafur Eliasson's "The Curious Desert" exhibition.

His Excellency expressed his admiration for the idea of the exhibition and the important message it presents that contributes to raising awareness of the local environment, by linking visual arts with the beauty of the local environment in the State of Qatar and the picturesque nature it contains.

The Curious Desert, the first solo exhibition by Olafur Eliasson in the region, brings together a dozen site-specific desert installations at Al Thakhira. and an extensive gallery presentation of artworks at the National Museum of Qatar.

Located in a sabkha habitat some 64 kilometres northeast of Doha, near the Al Thakhira Mangrove Reserve, twelve temporary pavilions enclose a series of new, experimental artworks that respond to the ephemeral natural phenomena of the local environment, such as sunlight, wind and water.

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