Antalya:President Nazar Amedi of Iraq has called for the activation of the Loss and Damage Fund and equitable access to green financing for climate-vulnerable countries. He warned that Iraq is experiencing mounting environmental pressures that threaten its water and food security, displace communities, and undermine social stability.

According to Iraqi Presidency, President Amedi addressed the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye. He emphasized Iraq’s vulnerability to climate change, exacerbated by wars and political instability, which have diminished the country’s capacity to adapt.

The President highlighted that Iraq has lost more than half of its agricultural land, and desertification has forced approximately 20,000 people from their homes. The deterioration of ecosystems has disrupted natural habitats, displacing birds from their nesting grounds in marshlands and plains. Water scarcity remains a pressing issue, with scientific projections indicating a 20 percent water deficit by 2040, threatening food security and social stability.

Despite these challenges, international climate financing to Iraq has been insufficient. President Amedi renewed his call for the Loss and Damage Fund’s activation and for vulnerable nations to receive green financing without bureaucratic barriers. He also reaffirmed Iraq’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and outlined efforts to cut gas flaring, expand renewable energy, conserve water, develop carbon markets, and combat desertification.