Iraqi president lands in Baku for crucial climate change conference

NEWSROOM – Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid has arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan, to participate in the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference. Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani is expected to join later this afternoon. The summit, running from Nov. 11 to 22, brings together representatives from nearly 200 countries to address critical global climate issues.

Key topics on the COP29 agenda include climate finance, adaptation strategies, and the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The conference aims to accelerate efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and to strengthen support for developing nations in their climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Iraq faces severe climate challenges, including rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and worsening water scarcity. These issues have compounded the country’s environmental and socio-economic vulnerabilities, making it one of the Middle East’s most climate-affected nations. Frequent dust storms, extreme heat waves, and shrinking rivers have further strained Iraq’s water resources and agriculture.

The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, Iraq’s primary water sources, have seen declining levels due to climate change and upstream water management, impacting agriculture, drinking water supplies, and biodiversity. Adaptive strategies are urgently needed to protect these resources, support rural communities, and ensure food and water security as the region faces increasingly dire environmental conditions.