Mesopotamia Revitalisation Project

Some influential voices are making the case for climate investment, including important political figures. On the initiative of the former president Barham Salih, in November 2021 the federal government adopted the Mesopotamia Revitalisation Project. This project maps out for the first time an ambitious plan for addressing the most critical impacts of climate change in the country. President Salih is a passionate advocate of climate change adaptation. In an interview he stated “the scale of the problem is so severe as a driver of conflict and instability that it is gradually becoming an issue that Iraqi politicians find worth talking about.

While the Mesopotamia Revitalisation Project will be Iraq-focused in its initial stages, it is designed to coordinate with and integrate Iraq with regional economic and climate-adaptation partnerships and interconnections. In its initial phase, it will focus on four core areas – reforestation – water management – housing and urbanization and energy transition – which exploit readily available opportunities, draw on proven technology, can take advantage of existing funding sources, and will deliver fast results. The nine initial projects range from reforestation to water supply and quality through to green energy and carbon capture. The vital and overdue gas capture program is also addressed. Together these will provide the foundations for a more ambitious long-term economic revitalization agenda that will take place with Iraq at the heart of regional change.