Iraq Takes a Bold Step: Submits First Climate Transparency Report to the UN – Shafaq News

Shafaq News – Baghdad

Iraq has recently submitted its first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) on climate change to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This report is a significant step under the Paris Agreement.

Crafted by the National Center for Climate Change, the report had support from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Various ministries and agencies, including the Kurdistan Regional Government, contributed to it.

Youssef Mueyyad Youssef, the director of the National Center for Climate Change, highlighted the report’s importance. It can help Iraq attract international funding to deal with climate issues. The report also lays out Iraq’s plans for future collaboration with global partners in tackling environmental challenges.

In a notable development, Iraq was elected to the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage during the SB62 climate talks in Bonn, Germany. This mechanism, created in 2013, aims to address damages caused by climate change.

According to the UN, Iraq is among the top five countries most vulnerable to climate change impacts. The World Bank has underscored the urgency of this situation, indicating that Iraq needs to shift towards greener development and diversify its economy to counter the climate crisis. A report from late 2022 projected that Iraq would require $233 billion in climate-related investments by 2040—approximately 6% of its annual GDP—to meet essential development goals.

Additionally, a report from the Strategic Center for Human Rights in 2025 revealed that Iraq has lost around 30% of its arable land over the past thirty years due to climate effects. This highlights the urgency for action and investment in sustainable practices.

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