Baghdad hosts third international water conference to address water crisis

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A tripartite meeting between Iraq, Turkey, and Iran is set for the near future to discuss the water crisis, as the countries have experienced an alarming decline in water levels over the last few years.

Iraq’s capital city of Baghdad on Saturday hosted its third international water conference to discuss growing threats of drought and water scarcity, the effects of climate change, and ways to address such environmental issues.

The conference titled 'Water Scarcity, the Mesopotamian Marshes, Shatt al-Arab Environment, Everyone's Responsibility' was attended by key relevant local and international authorities and experts.

The danger of drought and desertification surrounds Iraq and the region, with the rapid drop in water levels threatening the lives of locals, livestock, and agriculture in general.

"I think the recommendations will be within three basic concepts. The concept of complete management of water resources within the Tigris and Euphrates basins," Khaled Al-Shamali, spokesman of the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources told Rudaw.  

Al-Shamali went on to add "The other thing is water security. Iraqi water is the most important pillar of national security for Iraq, and therefore water security means saving the lives of 40 million Iraqis."

Through this conference, Iraq is trying to find alternatives and possible solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change and global warming, and the sustainability of the marsh environment to preserve the ecosystem and biodiversity.

Iraq is among the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including water and food insecurity, according to the United Nations. It is facing a severe water shortage because of reduced precipitation and higher temperatures, and waste and mismanagement. The crisis is worsened by dams upstream in Turkey and Iran that have led to a significant decrease in the volume of water entering the country.

"Calm diplomatic dialogue, negotiation, and highlighting the urgent need for cooperation based on interests, history, and neighborhood must be pursued," Jassim Al-Falahi, Iraq's deputy minister of the Environment said.

The vision of the two-day conference will include drawing up a policy for managing water resources in line with the challenges of water scarcity in order to provide safe water for communities and ensure the requirements for economic activity.

The UN Environment Program (UNEP) has long warned that water availability in Iraq will decrease by around 20 percent by 2025, threatening the long-term stability of agriculture and industry sectors.