Iraq has not caused climate change, pays a ‘significant price’, says environment minister

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – However Iraq has not caused climate change, it pays a significant price for suffering the adverse effects of the global phenomena, the country’s minister of environment told Kurdistan 24 on Saturday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Iraqi Minister of Environment Nizar Amedi’s remarks to Kurdistan 24 came on the margins of the United Nations’ flagship climate conference known as the Conference of Parties (COP28) in Dubai, where the l Iraqi delegation, led by President Abdul Latif Rashid, is taking part.

“Iraq has not caused this [climate] change and rising temperature in the world. Industrial countries have caused it,” Minister Ahmed told Kurdistan 24, calling for further support for countries that suffer the consequences.

“Iraq is at the forefront” of those countries that suffer the consequences of climate change, he added.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani are also in attendance at COP28 this year.

"The threat has far-reaching implications beyond borders," Prime Minister Barzani said on Friday regarding the climate threats. 

The rich industrial nations that had pledged to financially compensate the poor nations in the Paris Agreement have not yet realized it, the minister said.

Iraq has already witnessed several adverse effects of climate change, including destructive flooding, droughts, and rising temperature, which has caused internal displacements, particularly in Nineveh province, per the latest Norwegian Refugee Council.

Two-thirds of the displacement in the south has taken place in urban centers, the report found.

“Iraq’s climate is changing faster than people can adapt,” the NRC has observed.