Baghdad / NINA / – The Minister of Environment, Nizar Amidi, discussed with the Ambassador of the United States of America, Elena Romanowski, frameworks for cooperation in the file of climate change and the water crisis.
A statement by the Ministry of Environment stated, “Within the framework of relations and cooperation in the fields of environment and climate change, Minister Nizar Amedi met today, Monday, at the Ministry’s headquarters, with the Ambassador of the United States of America, Elena Romanowski. During the meeting, the Minister reviewed the government’s plans in general and the Ministry of Environment in particular to limit the impact of climate change in Iraq, in addition to reviewing the efforts currently being made to address the water scarcity crisis.
The Minister stated, according to the statement, that “the government is determined to intensify its diplomatic efforts with the neighboring countries from which the Tigris and Euphrates rivers originate in order to find effective solutions to the problems of water scarcity that cast a heavy shadow on the Iraqi environment in addition to its other economic and life problems,” stressing that “the environmental challenge that is the biggest challenge facing the country is the water challenge.
He pointed to the government’s keenness to enter into negotiations with the riparian countries with Iraq, in addition to a series of government measures to rationalize water management.
The statement continued, “During the meeting, the government’s procedures for exploiting associated gas and the coordination work between the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Oil to reduce emissions and the tireless work to implement Iraq’s commitments to nationally determined contributions were also discussed.
The Minister praised the continuous support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The two sides also indicated, according to the statement, the need to prepare the appropriate ground for work in preparation for the initiation of the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Environment in the Republic of Iraq and the United States regarding the expected cooperation between the two countries in the environmental field./ End
Source: National Iraqi News Agency