By Abdullahi Lukman
The Republic of Iraq has announced a comprehensive plan to enhance its climate adaptation and mitigation efforts through the development of a wide-ranging portfolio of projects.
This commitment, outlined in Iraq’s Green Climate Fund (GCF) Country Programme, is to guide initiatives across various sectors that align with national priorities, addressing the pressing climate vulnerabilities the country faces.
The GCF Country Programme will serve as a strategic framework to assess future funding applications and guide financial needs, aiming to address the impacts of climate change in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries.
The announcement follows the approval of Iraq’s first GCF project in October 2024, the $39 million “Strengthening Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Agriculture Livelihoods” initiative.
Dr. Hallo Al Askari, Iraq’s Minister of Environment, said that the Country Programme’s main objective is to implement Iraq’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which include strategies for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions across sectors such as energy, industrial, and transportation, as well as measures to adapt to climate change in the most vulnerable sectors, including agriculture and water resources.
Henry Gonzalez, Chief Investment Officer of GCF, expressed support for Iraq’s climate action ambitions, stating that the GCF is committed to assisting the government in scaling up its efforts.
GCF’s Middle East team is collaborating with Iraq’s government to transform the Country Programme’s vision into actionable climate projects, focusing particularly on enhancing resilience in the agricultural and water sectors.
The “Strengthening Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Agriculture Livelihoods” project, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is expected to benefit two million Iraqis by improving water management, boosting agricultural productivity, and supporting long-term food security and economic stability.
The project is to also integrate renewable energy solutions into agricultural practices, addressing the growing water management challenges exacerbated by rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and water scarcity from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
Iraq faces escalating climate risks, including extreme temperatures, reduced water availability, and poor water management, which has led to diminished agricultural productivity.
The Country Programme is a crucial step towards addressing these challenges and building long-term climate resilience for Iraq’s vulnerable farming communities.
