The garden of Eden is said to have existed somewhere between the Tigris and the Euphrates, in Iraq. Over the past two centuries, foreign adventurers came to marvel at the waterways and marshes immortalised in the Epic of Gilgamesh, with their water buffalo, wild boar, otters, pelicans, flocks of fowl and even lions running wild and free. In 2016, it was recognised as a Unesco World Heritage Site. That garden is now in grave peril, but it is not too late.
As world leaders gather in Dubai for Cop28, we have a duty to engage in collective action against a looming threat. For most of the nations of the Middle East, including Iraq, climate change will become, within our lifetimes, the greatest challenge. A sharp rise in temperatures, lack of rainfall, rapid decline in arable lands, drought, desertification, radically altered eco-systems and mass climate migration will be near-term realities if concerted steps toward long term solutions are not taken today. Extreme weather events in Iraq have already brought about severe economic challenges, including local pockets of increased poverty levels and greater social fragility.
Let’s be clear. The negative impacts of climate change cannot be addressed in isolation, nor with quick fixes. Neither will foreign countries come to our rescue. Yet, I know we can make a difference and achieve desired outcomes. This starts with Iraq’s full participation in efforts to reduce the effects of climate change through full engagement in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process. Because the previous Iraqi regime cared little about the environment, Iraq is a latecomer to the UNFCCC, but we are eager to make up for lost time. We have, therefore, ratified the Paris Accord, and submitted the Nationally Determined Contribution it calls for. While western nations can set aside domestic environmental policies during economic downturns, Iraq does not have the luxury of picking and choosing when the rules apply.
The negative impacts of climate change cannot be addressed in isolation, nor with quick fixes
We are implementing policies to help us mitigate climate change and better adapt to its impact while seeking to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The elements of such policies are well known: greater diversification of the economy, a focus on sustainability and increased reliance on clean and renewable sources of energy. Concretely, for example, Iraq’s Ministry of Oil intends to reduce gas flaring and adopt combined-cycle generators to increase efficiency. International investment in emerging markets like Iraq can also help by taking environmental impact into account.
For Iraq, the direct threats of climate change are only half the picture. Iraq’s economy largely relies on fossil fuel exports, and will be harshly impacted by climate change indirectly as the world economy reduces its dependence on those fuels. This is the case for all its Gulf neighbours – the member states of the GCC and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
With this in mind, Iraq calls on its Gulf neighbours to form a co-ordinated negotiating group within the UNFCCC process in order to speak with a united voice and reach decisions that better reflect our concerns as a region. Similar arrangements in other regions have proved successful. Consider the Independent Association of Latin American and Caribbean Countries, which was born out of Cop18 in Doha in 2012, and whose impact on drafting of the Paris Agreement in 2015 was noteworthy. Beyond the negotiations, the group could provide the seed for a regional agency that promotes co-operation on climate issues among all Gulf countries, along the lines of the Regional Organisation For The Protection of The Marine Environment, based in Kuwait.
Then there is the question of water shortages. All Gulf countries are water-stressed, but nowhere in the Gulf region is the lack of water more apparent than in the marshes of southern Iraq. What was once an aquatic wonderland rich in wildlife is now dry and parched, leading to the loss of livelihoods and a notable increase in internal displacement and migration. Multiple factors are behind the reduction of water flow to the marshes, ranging from inefficient irrigation and water management practices to reduced inflow from neighbouring countries (Iran, Turkey and Syria) because of upstream dams. Iraq is a downstream country, and dam construction by upstream neighbours has resulted in the loss of close to half of its total inflow compared to just a few years ago.
Negotiators must consider the concerns and rights of downstream countries as they deal with water and its equitable distribution. Interestingly, it is on the shores of the river Tigris, where our ancestors more than 4,500 years ago drafted the Treaty of Miselim, the first international agreement to share water resources. The international community now seeks to emulate this on a global level through a group of agreements, the latest of which is the Agreement on the Protection and Sustainable Use of Transient Waters.
The objectives outlined above may seem difficult to achieve. Yet there is hope, as I have seen Iraq’s southern marshes come back to life after the necessary action was taken. Recall that in the 1990s, Saddam Hussein’s regime accelerated the drainage of the marshes in a campaign described then by Max van der Stoel, a former Dutch foreign minister and UN rapporteur on human rights in Iraq, as the “environmental crime of the century”. Of course, Saddam Hussein’s regime did not care about the environment. Not only did it not adhere to the UNFCCC, it did not adhere to the Convention on Biodiversity, the Convention to Combat Desertification nor the Ramsar Convention on wetlands that would have protected the marshes.
What gives me hope is that in the years following the end of the former regime, through the concerted efforts of the Iraqi government, civil society and the international community, the marshes recovered up to 75 per cent of their former surface area at one stage, leading to a remarkable revival of the fauna and the flora and, in some measure, the return of their previously displaced inhabitants. I saw that first hand as the country’s minister of water resources. I am proud of what we achieved at the time. We will have reason to feel even greater pride once we engage fully, and collectively, to address the much broader challenge of climate change.
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
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The biog
Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”
Favourite film: “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”
Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”
MATCH INFO
Norwich City 1 (Cantwell 75') Manchester United 2 (Aghalo 51' 118') After extra time.
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LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised
General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.
"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.
He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.
Did you know?
Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
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Groom and Two Brides
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Rating: 3/5
