Iraq’s Minister of Environment, Sarwa Abdulwahid, has met with French Ambassador to Iraq, Patrick Durel, to discuss ways of deepening environmental cooperation between the two countries.
The talks covered water treatment, wastewater management, air pollution and climate change, reflecting Iraq’s urgent need for international support as it wrestles with some of the most severe environmental pressures in the Middle-East.
Minister Abdulwahid used the meeting to emphasise how much Iraq stands to gain from foreign technical knowledge. The country has faced worsening conditions in recent years, with shrinking water supplies, deteriorating air quality and the accelerating effects of climate change all demanding coordinated action.
Ambassador Durel was receptive and indicated that France was ready to offer technical assistance and hands-on expertise where needed. France has considerable experience in environmental engineering and climate policy and officials see potential for that experience to be put to practical use in Iraq.
The two also looked at longer-term possibilities, including structured exchanges of knowledge that could help build Iraq’s own institutional capacity over time. The shared goal, both parties agreed, is a country better equipped to govern its environment sustainably.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Iktaa Al-Assanawi, Administrative Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Ammar Jaber Al-Atta, the Ministry’s Technical Adviser, and representatives from the Department of International Environmental Relations.
This is the latest indication that Iraq is actively seeking to build its network of environmental partnerships abroad, with France now emerging as a potentially significant partner in that effort.
Source: Iraq Ministry of Environment
- Published: 3rd June, 2026
- Location: Baghdad
- Country: Iraq
- Editor: Ben McInerny
- Category: Environment
