Iraqi President Calls for Establishing a Regional Grouping

Iraqi Presidency

Iraqi President Abdullatif Jamal Rashid.

On Friday, December 1, 2023, Iraqi President Abdullatif Jamal Rashid took part in the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Expo City, Dubai, UAE.

At COP28, attended by over 180 world leaders, President Rashid said that the Iraqi government has full confidence in the objectives of the Dubai Climate Conference and is certain that the outcome will be comprehensive, balanced and fair to all countries as it pertains to global assessment, just transition, a loss and damage fund, and a global goal for climate change adaptation. This is based on the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities, as outlined in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which recognizes that countries (known as Parties) have different duties and abilities to address the adverse impacts of climate change, but all countries have an obligation to address it. The goal is to achieve a fair, just and equitable transition to clean, renewable and sustainable energies as well as to increase the flexibility with which developing countries can adapt to climate change, taking into account their ability to access climate finance, build capacity, and receive technology transfers.

Furthermore, His Excellency emphasized that in spite of its low greenhouse gas emissions, Iraq is classified as one of the world's most vulnerable countries to climate change, especially in water and agriculture. In addition to the decline of water supply from upstream countries, climate change and traditional irrigation systems in Iraq have led to a severe water crisis in the country. Iraq, like so many countries globally, is facing threats to its cultural heritage and civilization, as well as to current and future generations.

Moreover, President Rashid called for the establishment of a regional grouping that includes the eight riparian countries along the Gulf that are more vulnerable to the effects of dangerous climate change than other countries. He called upon neighboring countries in the Gulf to exert greater efforts to come together as a single negotiating group to demonstrate the challenges facing our collective climate future and ensure the rights of all people.

President Rashid's speech follows:

Your Majesties, Excellencies, Highnesses,
May the peace, blessings and mercy of God be upon you all.

It is with a warm heart that I extend to you my greetings from Iraq, the land of Mesopotamia, the cradle of human civilizations that taught the world science, knowledge, and law. As the first land to enact laws, it also possessed a natural heritage derived from both the Tigris and Euphrates rivers which are currently threatened by drought due to several factors, including the effects of climate change.

In spite of its low greenhouse gas emissions, Iraq is classified as one of the world's most vulnerable countries, especially in the areas of water and agriculture.

In addition to the decline of water supply from upstream countries, climate change and traditional irrigation systems in Iraq have led to a severe water crisis in the country. Thus, we are facing threats to our cultural heritage and civilization, as well as to our current and future generations. A good example of this can be seen in the drying up of the marshes in southern Iraq, which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Iraq has experienced extreme weather conditions, characterized by rising temperatures and a shortage of rainfall, causing an expansion of drought and desertification, a reduction in agricultural lands, a degradation of the land, an increase in dust and sand storms, a loss of natural habitats, and severe economic challenges for Iraqi society. In addition to poverty and social vulnerability, these challenges have caused an increase in internal displacement and external migration.

The conflict over water is not new. Nor is Iraq's situation as a downstream country unique or rare. To ensure an equitable distribution of water, it is essential that the discussion of losses and damages includes the just rights of downstream countries to ensure the security of their water sources. Without water security, there can be no food security.

It was 4,500 years ago, in Mesopotamia, that our ancestors found solutions to this problem by concluding the first negotiated agreement to share water resources. Here, we seek to accomplish this on a global scale through a series of agreements, the most recent of which is the Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Use of Transboundary Watercourses, which we hope to adopt and activate as soon as possible.

Due to the neglect of environmental issues by the previous regime, Iraq was not able to join the climate agreement until 2009. Nevertheless, we are determined to proceed with accelerated steps in order to accomplish our mutual objectives.

During the UN climate change conference, Iraq submitted the country's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), which embodies an ambitious policy to increase flexibility towards climate change and realize the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2023 Agenda.

Additionally, Iraq is expediting its efforts to complete its national adaptation and mitigation plans for climate change as well as support its technological requirements. Equally, Iraq is on course to completing the second national communication report on climate change and the biennial updated report of Iraq's greenhouse gas emissions inventory which demonstrates  that Iraq is committed to its world climate undertakings across various sectors.

Therefore, the Iraqi government will to act as soon as possible and take rapid executive measures, which include implementing renewable and clean energy projects, developing clear plans for reducing associated gas emissions in the oil production process, and signing large contracts with international companies that will reduce the burning of associated gas and benefit from it at the oil fields in order to achieve zero associated gas emissions by 2030. As part of this effort, combined cycle power plants will be adopted to generate electricity in order to achieve the national goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions as outlined in the national contributions document.

We have complete confidence in the objectives of the Dubai Climate Conference and are certain that the outcomes will be comprehensive, balanced and fair to all countries, specifically as it pertains to global assessment, just transition, loss and damage funding and a global goal for climate change adaptation.

This is based on the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective capabilities, outlined in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which recognizes that countries (known as Parties) have different duties and abilities to address the negative impacts of climate change, but all countries have an obligation to address climate change. The goal is to achieve a fair, just and equitable transition to clean, renewable and sustainable energies as well as to increase the flexibility with which developing countries can adapt to climate change, taking into account their ability to access climate finance, build capacity, and receive technology transfers.

Regarding the climate issue in our region, Iraq and its neighbors are on the front lines of combating the adverse effects of climate change. Even if the world is successful in achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement and limits the temperature increase to below two degrees, the temperature rise, especially within the Gulf region, will exceed this limit by several degrees.

Currently, we are experiencing extremely high temperatures, dust storms and water scarcity, and all of these challenges are cross- boundary and affect us all.

Moreover, the climate agreement takes into account the specific circumstances of our countries, which are heavily reliant on fossil fuels for their economies. Every action we take, whether in response to climate change mitigation or adaptation, will have a impact on other countries. There is no alternative but to combine our efforts to confront the dangers of climate change together, using all of our resources.

Consequently, we call on neighboring countries in the Gulf to exert greater efforts to come together as one negotiating group to demonstrate the challenges facing our climate future to the world and ensure the rights of our people. A regional grouping should be established that includes the eight riparian countries along the Gulf that will be more vulnerable to the effects of dangerous climate change than other countries.

In conclusion, I would like to add that Iraq condemns the ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip and its citizens, and calls upon the international community to exert pressure against this aggression. It remains our position that the Palestinian people have an unequivocal right to self-determination.



PUKMEDIA- Iraqi Presidency