New World Vision research: climate shocks impacting Iraqi children now

(27 November 2023) New research from international organisation World Vision flags the impact of climate change-related shocks on children in Iraq. ‘Growing up in the climate crisis’ shows that extreme weather events, a decline in water levels to historic lows, and less obvious impacts upon mental health all contribute to a debilitating mix for Iraqi children and young people.

It shows that Iraqi young people are aware that climate change is affecting their lives, and of the ways it intersects with other challenges, such as poverty. Moreover it flags young peoples’ concerns around specific impacts such as low crop yields, lack of nutritional diversity, lack of access to clean water, and health and sanitation challenges. More positively, it concludes that empowering young people in climate-related action is likely to have immediate and longer-term benefits.

Said World Vision Iraq National Director, Larisa Klepac:

“Climate change is not only the next generation’s problem in Iraq: it is already with us. Young people are experiencing effects upon their health, their families’ livelihoods, their education and much more. Above all it is eroding their confidence that their homeland can sustain their lives in the future.

“Iraq has already been shaken by decades of crisis, including the conflict of recent years, and the young people in this report are aware of how climate change affects them – multiplying the impacts of poverty and other issues to make their lives so much harder. With infrastructure in many places affected by war and governance issues, some of the communities in which we work are poorly equipped to withstand climate change-related shocks which are growing in frequency and intensity.

“Children told us of the effects of these shocks upon their wellbeing, raising the alarm again on climate change, and the international community must respond with urgency.

“The situation is deeply concerning. Yet, as ever, Iraqi young people inspire us with their commitment to be agents of the change that is needed, and for as long as they hold on to hope we do not have the right to give up. Now is the time for the international community to invest resources in Iraq’s recovery and long-term resilience, rather than slashing development aid budgets as some countries have done.”

Referring to the forthcoming COP28 summit in the UAE, Ms Klepac continued:

“Iraqi young people’s voices will be shaping and leading our engagement at COP28 and will continue to shine a light on the profound injustice of Iraqi children bearing the brunt of international disinterest in climate change. We will work to build commitment from donors in investing in the Iraq environment so that it may sustain these children and their children for generations to come.”

ENDS

Notes To Editors

For more information, please contact Evita Jourdi, World Vision Middle East and Eastern Europe’s Communications and Advocacy Adviser on: evita_jourdi@wvi.org

The report, ‘Growing Up in the Climate Crisis: Iraq’, is available here: https://www.wvi.org/publications/research/iraq/growing-climate-crisis-iraq-country-report

Larisa Klepac, Iraq National Director, will be attending COP 28 on World Vision's behalf and is available for interview or further comments.

World Vision is the world’s largest child-focused development organisation, active in over 100 countries. World Vision began emergency relief operations in Iraq in 2014 and works in WASH, livelihoods support, protection, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and education. So far in 2023 it has helped over 100,000 Iraqis build better lives for themselves and their families.