The Space for Iraqi Climate Activism Is Dangerously Small, and Shrinking

Aug 30, 2023 | Maha Yassin
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Iraq is at the deadly intersection of multiple major climate and environmental crises. The government’s attempts to mitigate the impact of climate change are too feeble to match the scale of the climate crisis, particularly drought. For Iraq to find its way out of the grim status quo of poor governance and environmental catastrophe, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society will need to play a crucial role.

Despite more than twenty years of environmental activism in Iraq, the structural capacities of many of these organizations and campaigns remain underdeveloped. While some of these groups have invested in developing their capacities, many lack specialized technical training and tools to scale up their engagement. Most importantly, environmental NGOs in general struggle to attract substantial funding, either because they have unclear long-term visions or shortages in staff capacities .

Ultimately, it is the environmental NGOs who are responsible for overcoming their structural and funding limitations. But support from the international community will be very valuable in helping them to succeed. Investing in building capacities, providing research and monitoring tools, and building regional and international networks that connect local activists with the global debate around climate change—these would be small but important steps toward reinforcing a robust climate and environmental movement in Iraq.