“Iraq at a Crossroads”… Will Climate Change Become an Opportunity for Innovation and Sustainability?

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[size=52]“Iraq at a Crossroads”… Will Climate Change Become an Opportunity for Innovation and Sustainability?[/size]

[size=45]Iraq faces major challenges in confronting climate change, as it suffers from rising temperatures and declining water resources. Studies have shown that the country will be among the most affected in the region.[/size]
[size=45]The Iraqi government seeks to develop comprehensive strategies to adapt to these changes, including improving water management, implementing renewable energy projects, and raising environmental awareness. This requires international cooperation and support from global organizations to address the potential negative impacts on food security and natural resources.[/size]
[size=45]Al-Sudani stressed in his speech during the “Future Summit” on facing future challenges, on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, that “Iraq is committed to establishing the concepts of climate justice, especially in the areas of combating drought and desertification and ensuring the sustainability of water resources and food security. Then, facing climate challenges requires effective international cooperation within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention and the Paris Agreement.”[/size]
[size=45]In the speech published by his media office, Al-Sudani stressed the need to give Iraq priority in climate financing, given that it is one of the countries most affected by climate change, and because Iraq has already begun implementing its commitments set forth in the National Contributions Document.[/size]
[size=45]The United Nations describes Iraq as one of the five countries most affected by climate change, as evidenced by water scarcity, drought, and shrinking agricultural areas.[/size]
[size=45]In a move to address these crises, the Iraqi government announced last Wednesday the launch of a comprehensive national strategy aimed at preserving the environment of the country, which is the second largest oil producer in the world, and reducing pollution, with a focus on protecting and recycling water, and reducing carbon emissions.[/size]
[size=45]The environmental plan, which is supported by the United Nations and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will span six years, from 2024 to 2030.[/size]
[size=45]Climate change directly affects water resources in Iraq, as rising temperatures and declining rainfall reduce surface and groundwater resources, increasing water scarcity. Climate change also negatively affects the agricultural sector in Iraq, as the country suffers from unstable agricultural seasons and recurring droughts.[/size]
[size=45]Despite the funding provided by some countries, especially the United States through its development agencies, to support NGOs, agricultural projects, and local initiatives in confronting climate change, the need for effective action to confront environmental threats remains great.[/size]
[size=45]According to reports from the International Committee of the Red Cross, Iraq was hit by more than 300 sandstorms in 2013, while the number of sandstorms between 1950 and 1990 did not exceed 25 storms annually. 94% of the displaced in the southern governorates indicated water scarcity as the main reason for their displacement.[/size]
[size=45]In 2021, Iraq experienced its second driest season in 40 years, driven by record low rainfall. Over the past 40 years, water flows from the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, which provide up to 98% of Iraq’s surface water, have fallen by 30-40%. The historic marshes in the south, a natural heritage wonder, are drying up. Temperatures are soaring in Iraq, with the highest recorded temperature reaching 54°C in Basra. Falling river levels mean seawater is rushing inland to the south, with salinity threatening agriculture. The livelihoods, and even the very existence, of entire communities are at stake.[/size]
[size=45]Climate change in Iraq not only affects the agricultural sector but also poses a serious threat to basic human rights, creates obstacles to sustainable development, and exacerbates the environmental, security, political and economic challenges facing the country.[/size]
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