Iraqi president: 'Climate justice must be at heart of our discussions'

Special attention should be paid to developing countries where the climate crisis threatens food, water, sanitary, and public security. The consequences of climate change are strongly felt in Iraq, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid said in his statement at the COP29 climate leaders summit in Baku, Report informs.

"We are facing record periods of abnormal heat, decreasing rainfall, and rising temperatures. This negatively affects biodiversity and green zones," he noted.

Furthermore, the number of droughts and desertification zones is increasing. Climate change has also led to the displacement of traditional communities and residents of wetlands in southern Iraq. This world heritage could disappear due to the climate crisis, Rashid said.

"Iraq's historical contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is very low, as is the case with most developing countries. Climate justice must therefore be at the very center of our discussions, as this is a human rights issue. We must act not only for the current but also for future generations," emphasized the Iraqi leader.

He expressed commitment to the principle of justice, equality, and common but differentiated responsibility.

"Our economy is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, but it is also very vulnerable to climate change," said Rashid and called for forming a group of negotiators from countries with similar climate challenges to coordinate their efforts and work together so that the collective contribution would be greater than the sum of its parts.

"Based on this same principle, we call on major world economies to strengthen their commitment to climate action. If some of these economies decide to withdraw from these initiatives, we urge state and private entities within them to maintain their commitments, because the world cannot achieve sustainable development without universal contribution," urged the Iraqi leader.