Climate Action in Kurdistan and COP29

Professor Dr. Serwan Baban, President of IDEAL, on March 12, 2025, presented the keynote lecture in this workshop, which was held at Erbil Polytechnic University on March 9, 2025.

The lecture focused on the impacts of climate change on key sectors in the Kurdistan Region. It explained that the Kurdistan Region is one of the regions most affected by climate change. It is experiencing rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events, which are adversely affecting agriculture and water resources, causing environmental degradation, and increasing climate-related peace and security risks. These impacts are compounded by overgrazing, urban expansion, and unsustainable land use practices.

The lecture then presented a way forward using satellite imagery and Geoinformatics to overcome ongoing data collection and develop Kurdistan-specific solutions. Published research successfully delivering the required science-based and data-driven solutions for the KRI was cited. Finally, an urgent call for immediate action, ‘while we can and have time’ was launched.