During the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) delegation held several bilateral meetings aimed at strengthening the Kurdistan Region’s international relations in the field of climate change.

COP29 is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11-22, 2024.

Read More: Kurdistan Region President Attends COP29

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani arrived in Baku on Tuesday, where he was welcomed by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

“When talking about projects in Kurdistan, whether forestation or water, it seems the benefit is only local but climate has no borders. What happens in Kurdistan affects the rest of Iraq & vice versa. So we need to think more collectively.” @BayanRahman said at #cop29baku today. pic.twitter.com/tICGispiPI

— KRG Climate (@KRGClimate) November 16, 2024

Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, Senior Advisor to the KRG Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs and Climate Change, met with Marta Youth, Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.

Abdul Rahman highlighted the impact of climate change on the displaced and refugee communities in Kurdistan. She also discussed the need for the international community to support vulnerable communities being affected by the lack of water across Iraq and Kurdistan. She said that unless they are helped now, it is likely that they will be forced to migrate to cities, to other provinces, and beyond.

Abdul Rahman thanked the United States for its partnership with Kurdistan and its concern about the impact of climate change on both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq as a whole.

Acting Assistant Secretary Youth expressed her appreciation for the hospitality shown by the people of Kurdistan to refugees and internally displaced persons, affirming that the United States would continue to offer various forms of support.

The @Kurdistan @KRGClimate team, along with colleagues and friends from the Presidency, NGOs, youth activists and private companies, is at #COP29 to lobby for technical support and funding for our climate action projects and plans. https://t.co/kmOkjRqbYq

— Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman (@BayanRahman) November 14, 2024

Abdul Rahman also met with Liliam Chagas, Director for Climate for Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the sidelines of COP29 to discuss climate change in the Kurdistan Region and preparations for COP30, which will be hosted by Brazil. The two exchanged information and perspectives on the impact of climate change on forests and biodiversity in both regions.

Despite differences in the types of forests present in the Kurdistan Region and in Brazil, they discussed the challenges both face and potential areas for international cooperation. Their conversation focused on data collection, fund allocation, and project implementation ahead of COP30.