A roundtable discussion and presentation of innovative solutions
A roundtable discussion and presentation of innovative solutions
The Minister of Environment commends the efforts of the Bahr Al-Uloom Foundation and its branches in combating environmental changes.
Bahr Al-Ulum: Launching the “El Alamein Center for Environmental, Climate Change and Water Studies” soon.
Bahr Al-Ulum: We have put the final touches to launching the “Iraqi Environmental Encyclopedia” project.
In the presence of the Minister of Environment, Dr. Helu Al-Askari, and the Country Director of the German Agency for International Cooperation in Iraq, Mr. Axel Klavik, a roundtable discussion and presentation were held at the El Alamein Institute for Graduate Studies on Sunday, July 20, 2025, highlighting innovative solutions for the smart farm project and the forward osmosis desalination system.
In his speech at the dialogue session, Dr. Ibrahim Bahr Al-Uloom, General Supervisor, spoke about the growing interest shown by the Bahr Al-Uloom Charity Foundation in recent years in the areas of the environment, climate change, water resources, and energy. This interest stems from its awareness of the magnitude of the challenges facing Iraq and its understanding of the role of scientific institutions in creating sustainable solutions.
He emphasized that the Foundation is now moving toward launching a new scientific arm, called the "El Alamein Center for Environmental, Climate Change and Water Studies," to serve as a specialized research platform similar in structure and impact to those operating in some regional countries. It will contribute to building bridges of regional and international cooperation for the exchange of knowledge and expertise in the fields of climate adaptation, water and environmental management, and renewable energy.
Dr. Bahar Al-Uloom added that the Bahar Al-Uloom Charitable Foundation, at the national level, is taking a new and unique step by putting the necessary touches in place to launch the "Iraqi Environmental Encyclopedia" project, as a two-phase documentation, knowledge, and development project, with the participation of more than 50 Iraqi academics specializing in environmental issues. He pointed out that the encyclopedia aims to build a comprehensive environmental database that will contribute to the development of future policies and the consolidation of environmental awareness, and we look forward to the Ministry of Environment being the main partner in this project. He pointed out that these initiatives, despite their modest nature, represent the beginning of a long strategic path. They would not have been achieved without the support of the Iraqi government and the interest of the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers and the relevant ministries, foremost among them the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Higher Education, in addition to universities and scientific research centers in Iraq.
For his part, His Excellency the Minister of Environment, Dr. Helo Al-Askari, praised the efforts of the Bahr Al-Uloom Foundation and its affiliates to address the problems and challenges facing the country. He commended the Iraqi Environmental Encyclopedia project, which the foundation intends to launch in the coming period, and announced the Ministry of Environment's readiness to cooperate with these significant positive efforts.
The roundtable included a speech by the Governor of Najaf, Eng. Yousef Kanawi, in which he praised the efforts of the Bahr Al-Uloom Charitable Foundation and its General Supervisor, Dr. Ibrahim Bahr Al-Uloom. This was followed by a speech by the Country Director of the German Agency for International Cooperation in Iraq, Mr. Axel Klavik, in which he expressed the agency's readiness to sponsor innovative initiatives to combat climate change. Dr. Mahdi Ahmed, Executive Director of the Thirst for Iraq Project, then spoke about the efforts of the Thirst for Iraq Project and its local, regional and international efforts to combat the effects of climate change and water scarcity in Iraq. A presentation was then given on the forward osmosis desalination plant by Dr. Sami Laibi, Technical Director of the project, and expert engineer Haider Ahmed. Another presentation on the smart farm was given by Engineer Haider Al-Fatlawi. This was followed by a lecture on "Climate Change and Its Impact on Societal Stability" by Professor Dr. Abdul Hamid Al-Obaidi, from the Bahr Al-Uloom Charitable Foundation. A panel discussion then followed on smart solutions to combat climate change and water scarcity to achieve societal stability.
