KRG, US Officials at COP29 discuss climate change's impact on migration in Kurdistan Region
The discussions centered on the severe consequences of climate change for displaced and refugee communities residing in the Kurdistan Region.
Nov. 17, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – During the COP29 climate summit in Baku, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) delegation engaged in high-level bilateral meetings aimed at strengthening the Kurdistan Region's global partnerships in addressing climate change.
Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, Senior Advisor to Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Foreign Affairs and Climate Change, held talks with Marta Youth, Acting US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration.
The discussions centered on the severe consequences of climate change for displaced and refugee communities residing in the Kurdistan Region.
Abdul Rahman emphasized the growing crisis caused by climate change, particularly its devastating effects on water resources. She warned that the worsening scarcity of water is imperiling the livelihoods of vulnerable communities across Kurdistan and Iraq.
Without urgent international intervention, she stressed, these populations will face increased pressure to migrate, moving to urban areas, other provinces, or even abroad.
Ms Abdul Rahman stated that the impact of climate change is not just environmental; it deeply affects human security and stability. She called on global partners to intensify support to mitigate these threats and help sustain the livelihoods of communities at risk.
Expressing gratitude to the United States, Abdul Rahman acknowledged America's longstanding partnership and its proactive concern for the broader region's climate challenges.
Acting Assistant Secretary Youth praised the hospitality of the Kurdistan Region toward refugees and internally displaced persons.
She reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting the Kurdistan Region, noting that American aid would continue in various forms to help alleviate the pressures exacerbated by climate change.
The discussions at COP29 underscore the urgent need for international cooperation to address climate-induced migration and highlight the crucial role of partnerships in building climate resilience.