The Silent Crisis: A $1.4 Billion Annual Toll

Decades of conflict have left Iraq grappling with "forever chemicals" -Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)- that do not break down. These toxins migrate through the food chain, causing severe health defects and staggering economic losses. National assessments have identified critical contamination zones, including: aging storage facilities leaking hazardous agricultural chemicals; industrial pollutants embedded in the nation’s power infrastructure; and high- risk zones created by unregulated waste burning and industrial discharge.

The environmental crisis disproportionately strikes those least able to defend themselves. The project is specifically designed to reduce toxic exposure for displaced families, women, youth, and rural communities whose livelihoods depend directly on clean land and water.

This agreement transitions Iraq toward a modern, high-tech environmental monitoring framework by creating a centralized authority to manage chemical pollution and remediate contaminated sites; upgrading national monitoring systems and laboratory technical capacity to detect invisible pollutants and ensuring alignment with Iraq’s National Development Plan 2024 with international standards, supporting legislation related to environmental protection.  The project aims to partner with civil society to raise awareness and promote safer environmental practices at the grassroots level.

The signing represents a unified effort between the Government of Iraq and international institutions, including the World Bank, UNDP, I3RF, and the GEF. It is a clear signal to the people of Iraq that their government is prioritizing a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable future.

Media Contact: Christine Cool

Email: Christine.cool@undp.org