Environmental degradation – aggravated by climate change – is driving large-scale displacement in Iraq. The Government of Iraq has identified this as a priority concern to address.

On November 29 and 30, Iraq’s Special Envoy on Climate Change, Dr. Fareed Yasseen, chaired a workshop on Environmental Degradation and Adaptive Solutions for Resilience to Displacement, attended by experts representing senior government officials, religious endowments, NGOs and academia from all governorates across Iraq.

The workshop featured opening remarks by Dr. Yasseen, UN Resident Coordinator Ghulam Isaczai and Deputy Minister of Water Resources Hussein Al-Bakka.

The group of experts engaged in a fruitful exchange of ideas for adaptive solutions to environmental degradation, and identified possible resilience-building measures to reduce the risk of displacement, in line with available resources and the Government of Iraq's Nationally Determined Contribution – an action plan to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts, committed to under The Paris Agreement.

IOM Iraq’s Chief of Mission, Mr. Giorgi Gigauri, and Representative for WFP in Iraq, Mr.  Ally Raza Qureshi, spoke to affirm support for the Government of Iraq’s efforts to bolster the resilience of communities affected by climate change. The workshop concluded with the Iraqi Special Envoy on Climate Change thanking participants and urging them to action.

Organized by the office of Iraq's Special Envoy on Climate Change, this workshop was made possible by the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Iraq, with support provided by WFP and IOM Iraq.