Governmental moves to build 15 new environmentally friendly cities

INA - BAGHDAD 

Environment Minister Nizar Amidi confirmed on Wednesday, that the government has practically begun to implement rapid solutions to the problems of climate change and water scarcity, while revealing a move to build 15 new environmentally friendly cities, stressing the importance of doubling reliance on modern agricultural methods and rational water management.

"Amidi, received in his office, the Swedish Ambassador to Baghdad, Jessica Svardstrom, in the presence of the Director General of the Awareness Department, Amir Ali Al-Hassoun, and the Director of the Directorate of Climate Change, Youssef Muayad," said the Ministry of Environment in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

During the meeting, they reviewed the environmental challenges facing the country. As Amidi stressed that, "the Iraqi government has practically begun to implement rapid and future solutions to the problems of climate change and water scarcity, which have become a problem that threatens the environmental reality, living conditions and societal peace," pointing to "the importance of doubling reliance on modern agricultural methods and rational water management."

He stressed the necessity of "using renewable energies and exploiting associated gas and striving in this file to complete important projects that confirm Iraq's commitment to climate action towards the Paris Agreement and the implementation of its nationally determined contributions from 2021 to 2030, which leads to a 1-2% reduction of its emissions."

The Minister of Environment touched on the issue of new sustainable cities and proceeding to build 15 new environmentally friendly cities in 15 Iraqi governorates via green spaces, waste recycling projects and the use of renewable energies.
In turn, the Swedish ambassador praised "the efforts made in the environmental file in Iraq," stressing "the importance of international support for it in implementing mitigation and adaptation projects to confront climate change and the transition towards a green economy."