UNDP: International and UN support for Iraq's transition to clean energy

Harith Al-Abadi
Baghdad-INA
 
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) emphasized Sunday, the support from UN and international sides for Iraq's transition to clean energy.
 
UNDP said in a statement, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "after UNDP supported the Iraqi efforts  to develop and submit its nationally determined contributions towards Paris Climate Agreement, including commitments related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which is an important turning point in advancing its efforts towards meeting climate change commitments, UNDP in Iraq, in partnership with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and with the support of the United Kingdom through the British Foreign Affairs and Development Office, organized a high-level workshop under the title "Iraq's Transition to Clean Energy".

 "The importance of this workshop, which was held in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, (the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency), comes to help develop a long-term framework for energy policy and address the main obstacles in understanding the infrastructure and financial needs to promote renewable energy, as Iraq lacks a framework for action a clear energy transition policy that defines the path from the fossil fuel-based energy sector to the carbon-neutral energy sector, the statement added.
 
 
"the Iraqi Ministry of Environment, represented by the Minister of Environment and Iraq's Special Representative for Climate Change, Jasim Al-Falahi, chaired the workshop and in the high-level presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the United Arab Emirates, the Permanent Representative of Iraq to the International Renewable Energy Agency, Muzaffar Al-Jubouri and representatives of the General Secretariat For the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Electricity, the Ministry of Industry and Minerals, the Ministry of Oil, the Ministry of Planning, the National Investment Authority, the Ministry of Electricity of Kurdistan Region, and the Commission for the Protection and Improvement of Environment in the Kurdistan Region,” According to the statement.
The statement continued, "Al-Falahi, during his speech at the opening of the workshop, expressed his thanks and gratitude to the government and people of the United Kingdom for supporting this project, which will increase Iraq's ambition towards combating climate change," adding, "We are grateful to the United Nations Development Program and the International Renewable Energy Agency for organizing this important event."
 "This work would not have been possible without the continuous and valuable cooperation with the Iraqi Ministry of Environment, the partnership with the International Renewable Energy Agency, and the generous support of the UK government through the British Foreign Affairs and Development Office." Al-Falahi said.