Baghdad – IA
Today, Wednesday, the Balsam Foundation for Sustainable Development held a workshop on carbon markets in light of the Paris Climate Agreement, sponsored by the office of Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani.
The workshop was held under the title “Carbon Market Mechanisms in Light of the Paris Climate Agreement, and Their Implementation in Iraq,” and was presented by the Advisor to the Parliamentary Health Committee, Ammar Al-Atta, and the Advisor to the British Government, Ahmed Al-Kilani.
The advisor to the Prime Minister, Diaa Al-Nasseri, said during the workshop, which was moderated and attended by the (INA), that “there is a possibility for Iraq to implement carbon market mechanisms after conducting a broad infrastructure development process, as well as working to enhance environmental and economic safety.”
He added, “Iraq faces the challenges of pollution and dependence on oil and gas, and there is a need to search for alternatives while working on the opportunity to transform these challenges into a process of investing in renewable energy and reducing emissions in conjunction with efforts to confront climate change.”
He continued, “In light of the Paris Climate Agreement, there is the possibility of directing clean technologies in Iraq to play their role, and mechanisms for promoting sustainable development can play this role.”
In turn, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Health Committee, Majid Shankali, stressed in his speech during the session that “there is a need to develop an integrated study to establish a private company with a profit goal related to carbon emissions, and for the file to be transferred to a sovereign state to compensate Iraq for the damages affected by these emissions.”
He added, “The economics of carbon markets are very modern, and work on creating Iraqi legislation in this regard needs extensive study, provided that the carbon emission file is sovereign, especially since the emissions file relates to different sectors.”
The advisor to the Parliamentary Health Committee, Ammar Al-Atta, said in his speech during the workshop, “Iraq witnessed a rapid increase in emissions after the year 2006, and from here lies the importance of setting standards in projects that adopt sustainable development goals and developing national plans to reduce carbon emissions.”
He pointed out that “there are recommendations that include issuing the necessary legislation related to climate change, allocating a portion of carbon revenues to support projects to adapt to the effects of climate change, working to reduce emissions in gas burning through carbon financing plans, establishing a reliable monitoring system, and conducting financial and investment evaluations.”
In turn, British government advisor Ahmed Al-Kilani, who participated in the workshop, said, “The climate change that has occurred in large areas of the world, including Iraq, occurred as a result of multiple factors, including emissions that affect all the inhabitants of the planet.”
He added, “The Paris Agreement includes commitments from all countries to reduce their emissions and work together to adapt to the effects of climate change. The agreement provides a path for developed countries to assist developing countries in climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.”
