Kurdistan Region tackles climate change amid growing water, migration challenges
“We in the Kurdistan Region, under the leadership of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, are taking action to tackle climate change issues,” Senior Advisor Bayan Sami Abdul-Rahman said, stressing the need for immediate and sustained efforts.
Nov. 23, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Region is ramping up efforts to address the critical impacts of climate change under the leadership of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, Senior Advisor Bayan Sami Abdul-Rahman announced during the fifth session of the Middle East Peace and Security Forum (MEPS24), titled "Conventional and Emerging Threats: Peacebuilding, Mediation, and Climate Security."
Abdul-Rahman highlighted the urgency of the climate crisis, describing it as an existential threat to the Kurdistan Region and Iraq as a whole. “We in the Kurdistan Region, under the leadership of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, are taking action to tackle climate change issues,” she said, stressing the need for immediate and sustained efforts.
Water scarcity and migration were among the pressing challenges outlined during the session. “We are already suffering from water issues in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq,” Abdul-Rahman explained. She noted that internal migration is a growing phenomenon in southern Iraq, exacerbated by environmental degradation and resource shortages.
The Senior Advisor underscored the importance of integrating climate security into broader peacebuilding and mediation efforts in the region. By addressing both conventional and emerging threats, the Kurdistan Region aims to enhance stability and resilience in the face of escalating environmental challenges.
The MEPS24 session provided a platform for regional leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss strategies for mitigating the adverse effects of climate change while fostering collaboration for sustainable solutions. Abdul-Rahman’s remarks highlighted the Kurdistan Region’s proactive role in confronting one of the most pressing global issues of the 21st century.