Humat Dijlah – 2024

In light of the challenges Iraq is facing due to climate change, and in an effort by Humat Dijlah to play its role in empowering affected communities to contribute to mitigating the increasingly noticeable impacts of climate change, and amidst the clear government silence in adopting policies aimed at reducing the risks faced by communities in various Iraqi cities, Humat Dijlah has launched the Climate Initiative.

This initiative aims to create social awareness and put pressure on decision-makers to adopt policies that would reduce the risks facing the community in Dhi Qar province. Dhi Qar holds a special significance due to the presence of the Central Marshes, one of the most important ecosystems in Iraq, known for its rich biodiversity. The marshes were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2016. Besides their biodiversity, the marshes are home to vital social structures that form an important part of Iraq’s social fabric and identity.

The marshlands, in general, have been exposed to severe risks due to climate change, evidenced by several issues, the most prominent being the internal migration of marshland residents. These people have lost a significant part of their economy, which largely depends on water availability. Studies indicate that buffalo herders have lost a large number of their livestock due to drought and rising temperatures, as well as the loss of vast agricultural lands.

The Climate Initiative is a step towards creating social pressure and awareness on decision-makers. Upon its launch, the initiative focused on raising awareness among marsh communities by producing readable content that highlighted the problem, ways to mitigate its impacts, and the necessary social and governmental roles. This effort was met with great engagement from local residents and helped create dialogue spaces to discuss the challenges, solutions, and role distribution.

The initiative also organized a direct dialogue with the Environmental Directorate in Dhi Qar, where officials acknowledged that the resources available to the Directorate do not match the magnitude of the challenges. There is an urgent need for the Iraqi state to adopt climate adaptation strategies that should be immediately implemented.

Referencing Environmental Protection and Improvement Law No. 27 of 2009, which mandates the formation of environmental protection and improvement councils in the provinces headed by the governor and including relevant departments, the Climate Initiative has pushed for the formation of these councils, regular meetings, and the involvement of specialists and civil society in discussions on environmental and water-related issues. The goal is to unify perspectives towards real solutions aimed at mitigating risks and preserving social and economic diversity.

The Climate Initiative is but one of several attempts to organize social awareness toward protecting the environment and water and to contribute to policy-making that addresses challenges or reduces their risks. Amid ongoing challenges, which worsen year after year, the need has become urgent for a socially conscious community capable of offering solutions and contributing to environmental protection. Simultaneously, decision-making bodies related to environmental issues must possess the necessary awareness and responsibility to fulfill their essential role in protecting the environment and water resources and reducing the risks facing communities due to climate change.