BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq, grappling with severe environmental challenges like desertification and drought, launched the first International Conference on Climate Change and its Impact on Health Security (ICCH) in Baghdad on Sunday. The two-day event gathers key representatives from both the federal government and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to address climate change’s growing impact on public health.
Discussions at the conference focus on climate change’s effect on air and water quality, food security, and the spread of infectious diseases. Experts will also explore strategies to strengthen resilience and safeguard public health amid these escalating threats.
Nizar Amidi, Iraq’s Minister of the Environment, highlighted Iraq’s vulnerability to climate change, with droughts and desertification displacing many, particularly in the southern provinces. He emphasized that the conference prioritizes addressing the health risks posed by these environmental changes.
Ikhlas Dilemi, an Iraqi Parliament member, underscored the urgency of tackling climate change, warning that it could derail Iraq’s development plans. Both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region are already feeling the adverse effects, necessitating swift governmental action.
Recently, on September 18, Iraq’s Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), launched the National Strategy for Environmental Protection (2024-2030), aiming to combat key challenges like water scarcity and biodiversity loss.
Iraq ranks fifth globally in vulnerability to climate change, with desertification affecting 39% of its land, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Rising temperatures and dwindling water resources could displace up to four million Iraqis by 2030, according to International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates.
Reporting by Akam Fahmi from Baghdad
