Earthna Summit highlights intersection of tradition and sustainability

Observer

02-05-2025

DOHA: The second edition of the Earthna Summit, highlighting the relationship between traditional practices and sustainability, was recently held in Doha, Qatar. Organised by Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future under Qatar Foundation, the event was held under the theme 'Building our Legacy: Sustainability, Innovation and Traditional Knowledge'.
The two-day summit was inaugurated by Shaikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation. It brought together global and local leaders, scientists, architects, activists, and artists to spotlight how traditional knowledge and cultural heritage can inform modern solutions to environmental challenges.
In her keynote address, Shaikha Hind bint Hamad al Thani, Vice-Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, highlighted the importance of tailored context-based solutions to global environmental challenges: 'So many outcomes and policies have emerged from past summits that amazed everyone — yet when it came to implementation, nothing materialised on the ground. Generic, pre-packaged policies and recommendations cannot be imposed on a planet as geographically and climatically diverse as ours. Human experiences with nature vary not only from one place to another, and from one environment to another, but even from one era to the next. This is what drives us to insist that the outcomes of our gathering must be tailored to our own culture, civilisation, geography and climate. Every proposal must be rooted in the context to which it belongs — its land, environment, and nature — without being dazzled by models that do not resemble us in geography, history, or culture.' Shaikha Hind further added: 'We are determined that the outcomes of this Summit grow from the ground beneath our own feet, shaped by our culture, our land, our weather, and our ways. We want this gathering — and others like it — to be spaces where we come together in recognition of our fitrah, the innate human nature within us all, that calls us to uphold what is just, what is generous, and what is in harmony with the world around us.' Qatar's Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al Subaie, also delivered a keynote at the summit reiterating the significance of ancestral knowledge, 'The theme of this summit — 'Building Our Legacy: Sustainability, Innovation and Traditional Knowledge' — is not just a motto, but a guiding pillar we hope will shape this gathering and the path beyond it. It represents our aspiration to revive a wave of profound knowledge that our ancestors once possessed — knowledge they skilfully employed to preserve their natural heritage,' he stated.
'Our ancestors demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to their surroundings and live in harmony with nature, drawing on inherited wisdom. This was reflected in all aspects of life—from climate-adapted architecture and sustainable farming practices to responsible fishing methods that ensured the protection of marine resources. These forms of knowledge are not theoretical; they are valuable lessons that can be reframed in a contemporary context to support environmental sustainability today,' he added.
The summit also included an award ceremony that highlighted projects which integrate traditional knowledge and innovation to address environmental challenges.
Selected from 400 submissions from over 100 countries, the winners of the first edition of the 2025 Biennial Earthna Prize received a prize of $1 million shared amongst the four winners.
Winners included Cameroon based The Farmer Tantoh Foundation, which engaged communities in spring protection and indigenous water purification, Colombia-based (Wuasikamas Ëconeêrã) by Fundación Suma Kausai which utilised indigenous ecological knowledge to mitigate climate change and preserve biodiversity, Kenya based (Seeds of Change Initiative) by Blooming World International for reviving traditional agriculture and empowering women and youth; and Thriving Fishers, Thriving Oceans by Blue Ventures for restoring tropical fisheries through community partnerships in Kenya, Senegal, Indonesia, Madagascar, Belize.
The Executive Director of Earthna, Dr Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, shared the following, "The Earthna Prize recognises solutions that draw on deep-rooted knowledge and collective experience to address today's environmental challenges. Our winners demonstrate that true innovation is not just about new technologies — it is also about revitalising and adapting time-tested practices for a sustainable future. Their work serves as a powerful reminder that resilience and progress are built on the practices we already possess, reimagined for the needs of our time." Events of the summit included various panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions that explored topics including climate change, water security, food security and culture and sustainability.
Additionally, the summit included 'The Earthna Village', a parallel exhibition open to the public which served as a community hub and included a variety of activities, panel discussions and workshops.
HIGHLIGHTS
The two-day summit brought together global and local leaders, scientists, architects, activists, and artists to spotlight how traditional knowledge and cultural heritage can inform modern solutions to environmental challenges