S3:E2 - Big green initiatives in the Gulf: A youth perspective

Guest: Abdul Rahman Al Mufta - Qatar
Purpose of the episode:
Big green projects have been emerging in the gulf as a strategy to tackle the climate crisis. However, these projects and others are presented in front of the public once the decision-making process has been completed without the involvement of the youth. In this episode, we want to provide space to have an open discussion on whether Gulf youth agree with the sustainability of these projects and whether they have proposals to improve or modify them. The intention is to show that youth have concerns and expertise that can benefit these green projects and should be part of decision-making processes, especially projects involving the future they will inherit.
The projects that will be discussed are:
- Qatar Fifa World Cup - First Carbon Neutral
- The Saudi green initiative
- The Middle East green initiative
- Masdar city
Quick questions with quick responses
1. From 1-10 how involved are Gulf youth in climate decision-making?
2. Which one is more effective: community-based action, government action, or private sector action?
3. How would you describe youth involvement in climate action in the Gulf?
Topics/Questions to cover
1. Are big green projects considered greenwashing in oil and gas exporting countries?
2. Is Masdar in UAE, Msheireb in Qatar, and the first Fifa carbon-neutral world cup examples to be set for other West Asian cities or cities worldwide?
Find more information about this episode, including more about this topic, additional resources and our key takeaways at www.youth4nature.org