Climate change is no longer a distant concern or an isolated issue confined to one country – it is a global threat that will shape the future of our planet in the years to come. Its impacts are intensifying, with devastating consequences for agriculture, heightened concerns about water scarcity, and increased incidents of wildfires around the world.
In the Kurdistan Region, the effects are already being felt. Irregular rainfall, prolonged drought, and shifts in climate patterns are impacting the production of staple crops. While the region has not yet suffered from large-scale wildfires, local forests and dry farmlands are susceptible to fire due to the extreme conditions caused by climate change. Therefore, reforestation efforts and protecting natural landscapes are essential to maintaining and improving the balance of nature and biodiversity.
Whether you are an environmental enthusiast or someone who emits tons of CO2 annually, it is not too late to reduce your carbon footprint, starting with your computer or mobile phone.
Environmentally positive web searches
Back in 2009, German entrepreneur Christian Kroll launched Ecosia, a search engine that transforms your web searches into tree planting-efforts around the world. That’s right – by simply searching the web, you can help fund reforestation. Ecosia generates revenue through advertisements and dedicates 80% of its profits to planting trees. To date, the platform has helped plant over 229 million trees in more than 70 countries.
On average, every 45 to 50 searches fund the planting of one tree. The “Ecosia on Campus” campaign, moreover, has helped the search engine gain traction at more than 40 prestigious universities, including the University of Edinburgh. Meanwhile, Ecosia’s Impact Calculator estimates that 15,000 users can help plant over 700,000 trees in just five years.
The funds are directed to trusted non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that plant trees in the areas most in need of reforestation. Beyond the environmental benefits, these efforts help revitalize agriculture, create job opportunities, enhance biodiversity, and protect endangered wildlife species, empowering local communities while healing the planet.
Kurdistan’s green digital shift
Kurds have long held a deep cultural connection to nature, often referring to themselves as “children of the mountains”; similarly, they have often used the oak tree as a symbol of resilience throughout their history. In a historic move for both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, University of Zakho (UoZ) became the first institution of higher education in the region to integrate Ecosia by setting up all university and office computers to use the eco-friendly search engine.
This initiative sparked a unique collaboration between UoZ and the Ecosia team, resulting in a dedicated campaign web address: https://ecosia.co/UOZ. What began as a simple idea – “Can we fight climate change with our daily internet searches?” – grew into a university-wide movement supported by faculty, administrators, students, and graduates. It was not a top-down directive; rather, it was led voluntarily by the student body, who not only installed the search engine but also continued to raise awareness and grow the number of Ecosia users.
Beyond the university
At UoZ, the switch to Ecosia was completed in less than ten days. However, for individuals the process can take as little as one minute, making it an effortless procedure for government offices, NGOs, and companies to implement. The Ecosia initiative has also partnered with local NGOs like Yak Dar and Future Influencers, integrating the campaign into their outreach and expanding its user base via other institutions in Zakho.
A major focus moving forward is reaching schools, with the goal of encouraging children to adopt sustainable digital habits early on. Teaching students about climate change and their daily carbon footprint fosters environmental responsibility and helps them make conscious, eco-friendly choices. Plus, student volunteers engaged in these efforts gain valuable leadership and public speaking skills –essential tools for their future careers.
To get started, simply click the campaign web address or scan the barcode provided (compatible with both iOS and Android). Alternatively, copy and paste the link into your browser, add Ecosia as an extension, and set it as your default search engine.
Masood Ahmed Hameed is a Biotechnologist at the College of Medicine University of Zakho. Ecosia campaign leader.
