Iraq is already a “victim” of a warming planet but the global move away from fossil fuels means the country's oil-based economy must tackle its own greenhouse gas emissions and clean up the industry, its climate envoy has disclosed.
Speaking at international affairs think tank Chatham House in London, Fareed Yasseen said Iraq was working towards diversifying it economy, using the country’s current oil revenue, to help combat its climate-related challenges. “Iraq has revenues that are quite considerable that we can put towards reinventing ourselves, to become a country that can adapt and be resilient to climate change,” he said.
Iraq has faced environmental disasters on a number of fronts. The depletion of its river system due to dams in upstream neighbouring countries has had devastating effects on arable land and ecosystems, causing migration from the country’s historic marshlands.
Toxic emissions from its gas flaring during oil extraction has caused deadly air pollution in Iraq’s cities. Rising temperatures are leading to droughts and soil erosion has increased the intensity of sand storms.
The Iran-Iraq war led to the destruction of Iraq’s date palm fields, and then-president Saddam Hussein drained the southern marshes to punish the tribes living there for participating in an uprising against him. Though the marshes were restored in 2016, animal life has since struggled to survive there.
Decades of conflict and authoritarian rule meant Iraq became a “very late comer” to global climate-change initiatives, Dr Yasseen said. It wasn't until 2009 that it signed the UN’s climate change convention, 17 years after its first signatories.
Whereas other oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia had begun capturing their methane as early as the 1970s – instead of burning it – Iraq’s methods of oil exploitation has not changed in more than half a century. “We’re still producing the same way that we did in the 1960s,” Dr Yasseen said.
Though solutions to Iraq's climate crises were available, more time was needed for efficient laws and knowledge to be put in place, drawing on the lessons and expertise of other countries. “Solutions do exist, we just need to be able to implement them correctly,” he added.
An increasingly repressive political climate has led to concerns for the safety of Iraq's environmentalists, who have pressured Baghdad to move faster. Jasem Al Asadi, an activist leading the protection of the marshes in southern Iraq, was kidnapped for two weeks this year. "Our environmental activists are heroes," Dr Yasseen said.
But there are signs that things will change for the better. Dr Yasseen – previously Iraq’s ambassador to the US – was speaking days after a series of events in Iraq dedicated to addressing the country’s climate crisis.
Iraq is seeking new technology, including wind power to generate electricity, to help address climate change.
Its main priority was the reduction of methane flaring, which is the practice of burning the natural gases emitted from oil extraction, rather than capturing and converting them into energy. “It’s a waste of resources, waste of money and it poisons people,” Dr Yasseen said. “You have no idea how much money we’re burning.”
Iraq's carbon emissions from flaring increased by 0.3 per cent in 2022 from the previous year. Its emissions were the second highest in the Middle East after Iran, and contributed to a third of the region's emissions that year, according to the Energy Institute's Statistical Review of World Energy.
The toxic gases are a major contributor to global carbon emissions and the pollutants have been linked to a rise in cancer in Iraq’s southern oil-producing city of Basra, according to a BBC investigation.
Iraq joined the Global Methane Pledge to reduce methane flaring by 30 per cent by 2030. Its main “emphasis” now is developing legislation enabling it to commercialise the captured gas, Dr Yasseen said. “We’re getting all sorts of proposals from oil companies willing to capture our flared gas. We can only proceed once we have the proper legislation in place."
Alongside this, a “reinvention” of Iraq’s agricultural traditions – which became obsolete after the creation of the national oil industry – is needed, drawing on expertise from regions with arid climates including Australia and the US. “Agriculture was invented in Iraq,” said Dr Yasseen, drawing on the land’s ancient history.
Another major challenge is how to handle the depletion of its two rivers among neighbouring Turkey, Iran and Syria, all of which had built dams upstream.
Experts on the panel with Dr Yasseen feared Iraq lacked the military and economic influence needed to negotiate a better arrangement with these countries. Greg Shapland, a visiting senior fellow at the London School of Economics, recommended “a dialogue between the UK and Iraq, on finding ways to help Iraq to best negotiate with its neighbours".
There is no “international regime” that a downstream country like Iraq could adopt to protect its waters and share it fairly with its neighbours, Dr Yasseen said. The country’s biggest Arab partner in this issue is Egypt, which faces the same challenges, he added.
Iraq could use data from space programmes such as those set up by the UK and the Netherlands, which monitor water content and pollution levels through satellite imagery, he said.
He hoped instead that the Gulf countries could form a “negotiating block” to address climate change-related issues, including Iraq’s water crisis. This idea was first put forward by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani at the UN General Assembly in September, and Dr Yasseen sees Cop28 as an “opportunity” for the grouping to be created.
“Many issues like dust storms and heatwaves can only be addressed on a regional scale and if we reforest in an area in Iraq, it will have positive impacts down in the Gulf,” said Dr Yasseen. “Iraq is a small country – the only way to get yourself heard is to be part of a powerful coalition that can push your views forward."
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152