AGP Executive Report

Water Pollution: Reports of Tigris pollution have fueled fears at Iraq’s fish markets, but officials clarified that HIV does not spread through fish or water. Sewage is also overwhelming the country’s waterways. Safe Drinking Water: Coliform bacteria were detected in Babil’s drinking water, raising fresh concerns about water quality. Fisheries: Illegal fishing in Al-Anbar is adding pressure to local fish stocks. Climate and Energy: Iraq has launched an updated climate pledge, while its Vision 2050 aims to reduce reliance on oil; solar projects could help diversify electricity supplies.

Tigris Pollution: Iraq’s environment minister warned that untreated hospital waste may be entering the river and contaminating fish. Health and environment officials clarified that HIV cannot spread through food or water, but concerns over waste disposal remain. Unsafe Water: Coliform bacteria were detected in Babil drinking water, while reports also describe sewage overwhelming waterways. Fish Stocks: Illegal fishing in Al-Anbar is adding pressure on local fish populations.

Drinking Water: Health officials in Babil warned that treatment plants are producing seriously contaminated water, with coliform bacteria detected and more than half of facilities not regularly disinfecting supplies. Water Management: Iraq and Czechia are exploring cooperation on treatment and pollution control as drought, climate pressures and river pollution strain supplies; officials say six million cubic metres of waste enter the Tigris and Euphrates, and 67 stations need repairs. Wildlife: Illegal fishing in Al-Anbar is threatening fish stocks, with rising Euphrates levels making patrols harder and harmful methods risking lasting damage to populations. Climate Policy: Iraq has launched an updated national climate pledge, while warnings of sewage overwhelming already-degraded waterways underscore the scale of the country’s environmental challenges.

Water Security: Baghdad and Prague are seeking cooperation on water treatment and pollution control. Iraq says more than 65% of its water comes from beyond its borders; about six million cubic metres of waste enter the Tigris and Euphrates, and 67 river stations need repairs. Wildlife: Illegal fishing is threatening fish stocks in Al-Anbar, where rising Euphrates levels are making enforcement harder. Officials warn that catching large numbers of fish or undersized specimens could hinder stocks’ recovery. Pollution: Toxic sewage is overwhelming Iraq’s declining waterways, adding urgency to calls for better treatment and infrastructure. Climate Action: Iraq has launched an updated national climate pledge, while a new plant genetic resources bank has opened in Baghdad.

Cleaner Power: The Kurdistan Region’s Runaki project aims to bring round-the-clock electricity to the whole region by year-end, reducing reliance on private generators, though funding gaps remain. Water Pollution: Toxic sewage is overwhelming Iraq’s declining waterways, adding to pressure on the country’s strained water systems. Climate Commitments: Iraq has launched an updated Nationally Determined Contribution, setting out its latest climate commitments. Nature and Agriculture: Baghdad has opened a plant genetic resources bank, while satellite images document ecological destruction in Southern Kurdistan. Separately, Erbil has launched a major tree-planting campaign.

Water Pollution: Toxic sewage is overwhelming Iraq’s declining waterways, underscoring the strain on the country’s water systems. Climate Policy: Iraq has launched its updated Nationally Determined Contribution, its latest climate commitment. Farming and Biodiversity: New efforts to strengthen farm management and open a plant genetic resources bank in Baghdad aim to support agriculture and preserve crop diversity. Urban Green Space: Erbil has launched a major tree-planting campaign.

Water Pollution: Nearly 6 million cubic metres of wastewater enter Iraq’s Tigris and Euphrates every day, worsening contamination as drought reduces river flows. Inspections found high pollution levels and treatment plants failing drinking-water standards, putting water supplies, farms and ecosystems at risk. Climate Policy: Iraq has launched an updated national climate pledge, a step toward strengthening its response to climate change. Agriculture and Biodiversity: Baghdad has opened a new plant genetic resources bank, aimed at preserving valuable crop varieties and supporting the country’s agricultural future.

Water Pollution: Nearly 6 million cubic meters of wastewater enter the Tigris and Euphrates every day, with tests finding serious contamination and some treatment plants failing standards. Declining river flows leave less water to dilute sewage and industrial waste. Iraq’s Environment Ministry clarified that its warning about untreated medical waste concerned pollution risks—not HIV transmission through water or fish—and said violations remain under investigation. Climate Policy: Iraq launched its updated national climate commitments. Nature & Agriculture: Baghdad opened a plant genetic resources bank, while Erbil began a major tree-planting campaign. Satellite imagery also documents ecological destruction in Southern Kurdistan. Cleaner Transport: Iraq’s Green Taxi initiative aims to bring one million electric vehicles onto the country’s roads.

Water Pollution: Nearly 6 million cubic metres of wastewater enter Iraq’s Tigris and Euphrates each day, worsening contamination as drought and climate change reduce river flows. Iraq’s Environment Ministry stressed that HIV cannot spread through fish, food or water, while warning that untreated medical waste still threatens public health and ecosystems. Climate Action: Iraq launched an updated national climate pledge, while a new government, FAO and World Bank initiative aims to strengthen farm management and climate resilience in the dairy sector. Nature and Biodiversity: Satellite images document ecological destruction in Southern Kurdistan, as Erbil begins a major tree-planting campaign. Baghdad has also opened a plant genetic resources bank, a step toward safeguarding the country’s agricultural diversity.

Climate-Resilient Farming: Iraq, the FAO and World Bank have launched a project to improve farm management and dairy value chains, with a focus on productivity and climate resilience. Climate Policy: Iraq has launched its updated national climate pledge, while a new plant genetic resources bank has opened in Baghdad. Marshland Protection: Dhi Qar has earmarked nearly $40 million for projects in the famed marshes. Kurdistan Environment: Satellite images document ecological damage in Southern Kurdistan, as protesters in Ranya call for an end to environmental destruction and Turkish military activity. Urban Greening: Erbil has begun a major tree-planting campaign.

Climate Commitments: Iraq launched its updated climate plan, targeting emissions cuts of up to 3% below business as usual by 2030 and 5% by 2035, with deeper reductions dependent on international support. The plan links climate action to water and energy security. Conservation: Baghdad opened a plant genetic resources bank to help preserve valuable plant varieties. Dhi Qar has set aside nearly $40 million for projects in the country’s famed marshes. Greener Cities: Erbil has begun a major tree-planting campaign, while Iraq’s Green Taxi initiative aims to put one million electric vehicles on the road. Kurdistan Environment: Satellite images documenting ecological damage in Southern Kurdistan have renewed attention to environmental destruction; Kurdistan Greens are also seeking an investigation into reported damage linked to Türkiye.

Climate Commitments: Iraq has launched its updated climate plan, setting targets to cut emissions by up to 3% below business-as-usual levels by 2030 and 5% by 2035, with a potential 22% cut if international support is secured. Nature and Research: Baghdad has opened a plant genetic resources bank, while Erbil has begun a major tree-planting campaign. Environmental Protection: Satellite images documenting ecological damage in Southern Kurdistan have sharpened concern over the region’s environment, as Kurdistan Greens call for an investigation into Turkey-linked damage. Marshland Projects: Dhi Qar has allocated nearly $40 million to support projects in Iraq’s famed marshes.

Green Spaces: Rwanga Foundation has completed a three-month renovation of Erbil’s Peshmerga Park, upgrading its 5,000-square-metre sports track and three children’s playgrounds. Erbil has also launched a major tree-planting campaign. Nature and Research: Baghdad has opened a plant genetic resources bank, while satellite images document ecological damage in Southern Kurdistan. Kurdish Greens are seeking an investigation into environmental harm linked to Türkiye. Cleaner Energy: A new gas-capture project at West Qurna-1 aims to collect associated gas now being flared, tackling a major source of emissions in Iraq. Marshes: Dhi Qar has allocated nearly $40 million for projects in the country’s famed marshlands.

Biodiversity and Food Security: Iraq has reopened its modernized National Plant Genetic Resources Bank in Baghdad, strengthening efforts to conserve native crops and support climate-resilient agriculture. Forests Under Pressure: Satellite images from Duhok province show extensive forest loss and new roads in areas where Turkish military infrastructure has expanded; a report also alleges timber is being transported across the border. Cutting Gas Flaring: KBR and Iraqi firm AKT will work on a gas-capture project at West Qurna-1, targeting associated gas now flared in southern oil fields. Marshland Protection: Dhi Qar has set nearly $40 million for projects in Iraq’s famed marshes. Greener Cities and Transport: Erbil has launched a major tree-planting campaign, while Iraq’s Green Taxi initiative aims to put one million electric vehicles on the road.

Kurdistan’s Forests: Satellite images show extensive tree clearing and new roads across parts of Duhok province, particularly around Zaxo and Amêdî, amid Turkish military expansion and logging activity. Greening Erbil: The city has launched a major tree-planting campaign, while a separate olive-growing project in the Kurdistan Region drew a visit from a German delegation. Marshland Investment: Dhi Qar has allocated nearly $40 million for projects in its famed marshes. Cleaner Transport and Soil: Iraq is targeting one million electric vehicles through its Green Taxi initiative, and young entrepreneurs in Kurdistan have opened the region’s first vermicompost plant to help restore soil.

Urban Greening: Erbil has started planting hundreds of sissoo and elm trees, with thousands more planned across the city by the end of October. Its wider green-belt project aims to plant about seven million trees to limit desertification, heat and dust storms. Cleaner Transport: Iraq’s Green Taxi initiative targets one million electric vehicles, an ambitious push toward lower-emission transport. Wetlands: Dhi Qar has set aside nearly $40 million for projects in its famed marshes. Kurdistan’s Environment: Greens are seeking an investigation into Turkey-linked environmental damage, while residents in Ranya have protested environmental destruction and villagers in Duhok report logging near Turkish military posts. Waste and Soil: Young entrepreneurs have launched Kurdistan’s first vermicompost plant, turning organic waste into a resource for improving soil.