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NEWS | WORLD
A say in climate change financing
Qatar highest in construction costs In preparation of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar has been actively handing out tenders to revamp its infrastructure. According to EC Harris’s International Construction Costs Report 2012, Qatar is the most expensive country to build in the Middle East. The study accounts for 53 countries around the world, and with the amount of construction activity in Qatar, the country is now 13th in the list. According to the report one of the primary reasons for this is the focus on large-scale infrastructure projects with the Qatari government having allocated 40% of its overall budget between now and 2016 to improving both transportation networks and social infrastructure across the country. “Careful planning and a more strategic approach to supply chain management will be key to ensure companies do not become overstretched and are able to plan ahead so they can source additional labour, plant and materials before construction demand begins to peak,” Nick Smith, Head of Cost and Commercial Management for EC Harris in Qatar said. The UAE rose one place to 17th overall from 2011 as the construction industry starts to
August/September 2012
stir with government tenders and social infrastructure projects. Certain commercial projects in Dubai that were put on hold during the economic crisis are now being reviewed, which is a positive sign for the industry in the UAE. The report adds that the UAE may need to compete with Saudi Arabia and Qatar for labour and materials, which could lead to a price increase in the near future. Despite Saudi Arabia’s construction costs being considerably cheaper than that of Qatar and even the UAE, the kingdom rose in the list by eleven places from 36th to 25th this year. This is mostly due to large investments in the new airport, highways and rail system. Smith added, “Saudi Arabia’s construction industry is entering a potentially vibrant period as an expanding young population is creating increased demand for housing whilst a developing tourism and leisure industry will see new hotels built in under-supplied Jeddah and Riyadh. Furthermore, construction of the Kingdom Tower in Jeddah will help to sustain the pipeline of work on both a short and mid-term basis.” The most expensive countries are Switzerland, Denmark, Australia, Japan and Sweden.
In an open letter to policymakers, NGOs supporting indigenous rights have demanded an official role in planning for a new global fund for climate change mitigation. The Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) and Jaringan Orang Asal Se-Malaysia (JOAS) expressed the need to include indigenous groups in planning for the Global Climate Fund (GCF). The United Nations-backed GCF committee proposed a US $100-billion dollar fund to help developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change impacts such as increasing sea levels, erratic weather and volatile agricultural conditions. The letter included a report providing advice on climate funding for the world’s 370 million indigenous people, who take part in global climate discussions through the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC). Indigenous cultures have deep ties to nature and sustainable lifestyles that provide crucial lessons to the rest of the world, said IIPFCC members at the Rio+20 Earth Summit in June. “Indigenous peoples and human rights organisations were very disappointed to learn that some governments sought to eliminate rights language and in the end any mention of rights was also entirely lost,” said FPP in a statement after the summit. In 2007, a UN agreement established the right for indigenous groups to fully participate in policy decisions that affect their interests. Indigenous communities, according to this declaration, are allowed to defend their land and resources from exploitation from mining, construction or deforestation. “The Green Climate Fund can play a significant role in bolstering support for adaptation and mitigation, but in order to do so, it must recognise and respect international human rights…and fully recognise indigenous peoples’ right to participation in its governance structures,” the letter concluded.