Environment

International conference on climate change, health security begins in Baghdad

A delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), led by Health Minister Saman Barzanji and accompanied by 27 advisors and directors general from various ministries and institutions, is actively participating in the two-day event.

The irrigation channel in the district of Dawwayeh is dry due to low water levels as a result of back to back drought and severe cuts by the Iraqi government. (Photo: AP)
The irrigation channel in the district of Dawwayeh is dry due to low water levels as a result of back to back drought and severe cuts by the Iraqi government. (Photo: AP)
Iraq International Conference Baghdad Conference Health Security Climate change KRG Ministry of Health KRG delegation

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The first international conference dedicated to climate change and its profound impacts on health security in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region is set to commence on Sunday in Baghdad.

A delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), led by Health Minister Saman Barzanji and accompanied by 27 advisors and directors general from various ministries and institutions, is actively participating in the two-day event.

The conference, taking place on September 22nd and 23rd, 2024, will feature a speech by the KRG Health Minister, who will shed light on critical health challenges facing the region in the context of a changing climate.

The gathering is set to welcome senior Iraqi officials alongside the KRG delegation, the UN Special Envoy to Iraq, representatives from the World Health Organization, the International Organization for Migration, UNICEF, and several other key international organizations.

The conference is expected to address the urgent need for coordinated action to mitigate the health risks posed by climate change, particularly in vulnerable regions like Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Key topics likely to be discussed include the impact of climate change on air and water quality, food security, and the spread of infectious diseases. The conference will also explore potential solutions and strategies to build resilience and protect public health in the face of these growing challenges.