Prime Minister Barzani inaugurates Erbil's seven-million-tree green belt project

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani on Thursday inaugurated a major green belt around Erbil, which includes planting millions of pistachio and olive trees around the capital city, a landmark initiative aimed at combating air pollution and climate change.

 

"I planted the first tree of Erbil’s Green Belt today — a 7 million tree project that will raise the capital’s green coverage to 25%," Prime Minister Barzani wrote on X.

 

"We should not wait for miracles; we must create miracles ourselves," he added.

 

The project is considered a comprehensive solution to address climate change impacts, reduce dust storms, and increase urban greenery, the official said.

 

The green belt will cover the parameters of Erbil outside the 150-meter street, in a circular manner along with the construction of more than 10 artificial lakes for watering the trees.

 

Barzani hailed the project as "important" and "historical".

 

"A green belt which surrounds Erbil in a circle manner, of course will have significant influences on Erbil's weather," the prime minister said, adding the project will pave the way to create "a healthier environment for us. A healthier environment and cleaner air are factors for a better and more prosperous life for our people," he said during the inauguration.

 

Erbil has one of the highest levels of air pollution in Iraq. There are several causes, most notably, plumes of smoke from electricity generators and a large number of cars using low-quality fuel. Dust storms are also a frequent occurrence in Erbil.

 

Iraq is considered among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with poor water resource management and upstream dam projects in neighboring countries further decreasing the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

 

The Kurdish premier said the greenbelt project is part of the government's efforts to diversify sources of income, given that the private sector will make profit out of the olive trees that will be planted in the project.