Climate risk assessment for Iraq: The Southern Marshes eco-region and Persian Gulf and Shatt Al-Arab eco-region

Cornforth, R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4379-9556, Saggioro, E., Petty, C., Pope, H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2936-7052 and Tarnavsky, E., (2022) Climate risk assessment for Iraq: The Southern Marshes eco-region and Persian Gulf and Shatt Al-Arab eco-region. Report. Walker Institute, Geneva, Switzerland. pp82. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.10572716

Abstract/Summary

This report has been produced for the purpose of supporting the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) contribution to the delivery of climate change adaptation in the Asian region through the Green Climate Fund funded National Adaptation Plan (NAP)for Iraq project. The Walker Institute is working with UNEP, NAP partners and local officials to determine relevant gaps in relation to climate knowledge in Iraqi institutions and determine how to build capacity to address climate change. This technical report summarises the results from a set of government-endorsed climate risk assessments in first order and second-order risk domains for the Southern Marshes eco-region and the Persian Gulf and Shatt Al-Arab eco-region. This involved the development of climate projections and indices which were used to construct climate storylines. These storylines provide Iraq decision-makers with impact analyses and data to incorporate in their decision-making processes and support adaptation planning. This work will equip Iraq in identifying and planning for technical support activities and multi-sectoral cooperation to formulate and implement the NAP process.