Canada: More than $3 billions to Iraq to confront climate change, water scarcity

INA – BAGHDAD
 
The Canadian government announced on Wednesday, its support for a catalyst climate action project in Iraq with $3.3 billion to solve the problem of climate change, indicating that the project provides an opportunity to alleviate water scarcity.
 
The Canadian government is working in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program, the government of Iraq and the United Kingdom to support climate change initiatives as Canada contributes to this program within the Trans-boundary Water Program to increase Iraq's capacity, according to the Canadian Ambassador to Iraq Gregory Galligan in a speech during the launching ceremony of the project to catalyst climate action in Iraq, attended the Iraqi News Agency – INA.
 
"The project that we will launch will support the Government of Iraq in the field of water and drought challenges. This allows the Government of Canada to support these projects by providing $3.3 billion by 2021-2026, as well as solving the water problem in Iraq, climate change and economic development," he noted.
 
Galligan stressed the need to "manage the water file to meet these needs, as well as the lack of water that leads to migration, especially for the marsh dwellers to urban areas as the rate of water decline in Iraq has reached 75%."
 
“Many of the population faced some health complications and poor breathing due to the rising dust, and these matters effectively and significantly affect women and children," he highlighted, noting that "this project provides an opportunity for Iraqi men and women to provide solutions to mitigate climate change and water scarcity in particular."
 
He included, "This project provides an opportunity to work with international and local partners to achieve the common goals of climate and environmental sustainability," stressing the need for "work to start from now on to affect climate change."
 
"Our task is to try to continue the flow of water in the Tigris and Euphrates by generations," indicated Galligan.