World
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with King Charles III and President of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Dubai on November 30, 2023. Photo: KRP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Thursday arrived in Dubai to attend the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference. He met with a number of world leaders and was invited by King Charles III and President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to attend the opening of a forum.
President Barzani attended the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United Nations’ annual climate summit, where dozens of world leaders gathered.
“President Nechirvan Barzani was invited by His Majesty King Charles III and the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to attend the opening reception of the COP28 Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum this evening in Dubai. The reception precedes the World Climate Action Summit, which begins tomorrow,” read a statement from Kurdistan Region Presidency. 
“Tonight’s ceremony serves as the opening event to launch the inaugural COP28 Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum. The two-day Forum, held in partnership with the Sustainable Markets Initiative and other organizations, is running in parallel with the World Climate Action Summit. Tonight’s reception brings together the presidents and heads of states who will participate in the two-day summit,” it added.
This year is set to become the hottest year ever recorded, the United Nations said on Thursday, warning of the devastating repercussions and demanding immediate action to tackle climate change.
The UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its provisional State of the Global Climate report saying 2023 had “shattered” climate records and warned of the accompanying “trail of devastation and despair” that would be left behind.
"It's a deafening cacophony of broken records," said WMO chief Petteri Taalas.
Simon Stiell, the UN top climate official who oversees the summit, said last week that world leaders must “stop dawdling and start doing” on carbon emission cuts.
“We’re used to talking about protecting people on the far-flung frontlines. We’re now at the point where we’re all on the frontline,” he noted, adding that nevertheless “most governments are still strolling when they need to be sprinting.”
“Various entities, including countries, the United Nations, governmental agencies, NGOs, and the private sector, engage in extensive research and discussions regarding the threats and risks posed by climate change. Moreover, they collaborate to develop comprehensive plans and implement effective measures at a global scale to address these challenges,” added the statement from the Kurdistan Regional Presidency.
Impact on Iraq, Kurdistan Region
Dilshad Shahab, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region Presidency, told reporters in Dubai that President Barzani was officially invited to the summit, considering his attendance as "important."
"Iraq is one of the countries extremely prone to climate change threats," he said, adding that this includes Kurdistan Region as well but "with a slight difference."
Shahab noted that the Region will benefit from the summit to improve its climate.
He stated that the warm welcome by world leaders "proves that the position of the Region remains strong."
Scorching temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius were recorded in Iraq this year, coupled with water scarcity, desertification, and reduced rainfall.
According to the UN, over 130,000 people in southern Iraq are prone to displacement by the end of 2023 due to the effects of climate change.
Extreme summer temperatures were recorded across the globe this year, particularly in Iraq which is the fifth most vulnerable country worldwide to the effects of climate change.
The UN Development Programme’s (UNDP) special representative in Iraq told Rudaw last month that Iraq is severely affected by the impacts of climate change, mainly due to a decrease in water levels, and that the UN is working to assist the Iraqi government to increase water flow into the country.
“As the UNDP we are trying to do something about it [moving from the marshlands}, we are working together with government and other UN agencies to set up programs to support the population in the marshlands,” said Auke Lootsma, adding that support is for both to adapt to the effects of climate change and to improve the livelihood of the people in the area.
A key form of assistance that the UNDP is providing to Iraq is aiding the government in negotiations with neighboring countries to increase water flow into the country, he said.
At a climate conference in Basra in March, Sudani announced a plan to plant five million trees to combat desertification, with private banks footing the bill for half a million of the trees.
Iraq’s President Abdul Latif Rashid and Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani are also attending the COP28 summit, leading separate delegations.
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment