Baghdad: Environment Minister Sarwa Abdul Wahed announced on Thursday that the government has developed programs and solutions to combat pollution, alongside plans to amend the Environment Ministry Law. She highlighted the ministry’s intention to offer incentives to individuals who engage in voluntary environmental improvement initiatives.
According to Iraqi News Agency, Abdul Wahed addressed a panel discussion at the Baghdad Dialogue Council, emphasizing the challenges faced by the Environment Ministry, particularly regarding financial allocations. She expressed a commitment to elevate the ministry’s status and praised the capabilities of its staff. Despite previous large budgets failing to resolve pollution and environmental crises, she assured that the current government has viable programs to address these issues, warning of the dire consequences if environmental pollution is not effectively tackled in the coming years.
The minister revealed that the President of the Supreme Judicial Council has mandated accountability for all entities, including government bodies, responsible for environmental pollution. Abdul Wahed called for institutional support and announced plans for an expanded meeting with other ministries, as directed by the Prime Minister, to address pollution in Iraq’s major rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates. She noted that Parliament is also showing interest in the matter.
Abdul Wahed pledged full support for youth-driven environmental projects and urged public participation in voluntary work, with incentives for young people involved in such initiatives. She outlined efforts to restructure the ministry, underscoring the need for collaboration with other institutions, and highlighted directives from the Prime Minister for ministries to comply with environmental standards in performance assessments.
The minister also mentioned forthcoming amendments to the ministry’s law, which will include stricter penalties, potentially prison terms, for those responsible for environmental pollution. Meanwhile, Salam Zidan, head of the Baghdad Dialogue Council, told INA that discussions included the ministry’s plans for pollution reduction and support for clean energy transitions, with a focus on sustainable solutions for Iraq’s energy crisis and carbon emission reduction.
Zidan added that there was a recommendation to decrease or eliminate customs duties on solar energy systems and electric vehicles, encouraging their adoption by citizens and the private sector. The Baghdad Dialogue Council aims to bolster cooperation between the Environment Ministry, specialized organizations, and policymakers to ensure the effective implementation of environmental policies.