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A closer look at just transition policies
Iraq

Iraq's Nationally Determined Contribution 3.0

Region
Arab States
Country
Iraq
Originator/Owner
Government ministries and agencies (national level)
Coordinating/Lead actor
Ministry of Environment
Policy type
Strategies (plans, frameworks, roadmaps, blueprints)
Policy areas
Enterprise policies, Industrial and sectoral policies, Macroeconomic and growth policies, Skills development, Social protection
Environmental focus
Climate change
Target groups
Women, Workers, Youth
Sectoral focus
Agriculture, Forestry and Land use, Energy, Infrastructure, construction and related sectors, Manufacturing, Public services, utilities and health
Crosscutting themes
Digital economy, Employment/job creation, Gender, Green economy, Heat stress
Date of Adoption
13 Nov 2025
Timeframe
2025-2035
28 Feb 2025
Political decision made for NDC revision
01 Jun 2025 - 15 Aug 2025
NDC drafting, sectoral consultations and stakeholder dialogues
15 Sep 2025 - 13 Nov 2025
Submission to Cabinet for discussion and final approval
13 Nov 2025
Submission to UNFCCC
Iraq's NDC (Updated in 2025)
English, PDF

Iraq's updated climate and development NDC 2025.

Iraq's 2025 NDC emphasizes the commitment to climate action aligned with its national development priorities, driven by constitutional mandates and international obligations under the Paris Agreement. The country faces significant climate challenges including extreme heat, water scarcity, desertification, and biodiversity loss, which threaten its socio-economic stability and environmental sustainability.

Iraq's economy is heavily reliant on oil, contributing to high emissions, but the country aims to transition towards renewable energy, improve resource efficiency, and implement nature-based solutions. The NDC sets ambitious mitigation targets, including a 3% reduction from Business-as-Usual (BaU) by 2030 and up to 17% conditional reduction by 2035, with a total mitigation ambition of 22%. It also prioritizes adaptation strategies across sectors such as water, agriculture, ecosystems, and health, with a focus on enhancing resilience, sustainable land use, and ecosystem conservation. The plan incorporates comprehensive measures for climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building.

The NDC was developed with technical assistance from UNDP and other UN agencies in Iraq.

Key insights
The Iraqi NDC is an example of the clear structure used in highlighting specific just transition concerns per sector, through a Sectoral Analysis Matrix

The Sectoral Analysis Matrix outlines just transition concerns across the NDC priority sectors. These priorities are developed through the extensive stakeholder consultations held by the Ministry of Environment with the support of the UNDP and other UN agencies during the month of July and August. These just transition concerns are summarised as the following:

Energy sector: the shift from fossil fuels is acknowledged to require workforce reskilling and inclusive policies. Iraq recognizes that its oil dominance must give way to renewable energy provision that can reduce domestic oil consumption while maximizing petrochemical revenues creating a managed, not abrupt, transition.

Industry (IPPU): the sector requires cleaner technology and regulatory reform. A notable economic-justice link is made: each 1% increase in industrial investment reduces unemployment by approximately 0.5%, or around 170,000 workers, framing industrial decarbonisation as an employment opportunity, not a threat.

Water: the just transition dimension is explicitly characterized as water equity across regions and communities, recognising the deep inequalities in access to the Tigris-Euphrates basin and other resources.

Agriculture: Just transition in agriculture centers on support for smallholders, green techniques, and smart farming that can enhance resilience to climate shocks, framing smallholder farmers as both the most vulnerable and the primary agents of agricultural transformation.

Special Ecosystems (forests, mountains, marshlands): the NDC calls for protecting ecosystem-dependent communities and ensuring reskilling of the labour force into green employment, with ecosystems services such as timber and honey offering green job pathways, and eco-tourism as an economic alternative.

Expected Outcomes
Just transition builds public support for environmental reform, making climate policy socially sustainable and politically feasible
Iraq NDC 3.0, p. 130
Implementation
Within the implementation of Iraq’s NDCs, several UN-agencies and development partners have been supporting the Government of Iraq in advancing climate action and achieving its mitigation and adaptation targets

Iraq has requested NDC Partnership support for mainstreaming NDCs into national and subnational planning and budgeting; improving coordination and a whole-of-society approach; designing or strengthening MRV systems; capacity building; and mobilising financial resources for NDC investment projects.

In this context, UNDP Iraq in close coordination with the Ministry of Environment and relevant national stakeholders, has been actively supporting the strengthening of cooperation between Iraq and Japan on climate action, particularly in the areas of technology transfer, low-carbon development pathways, and climate innovation. For example, they have held a follow-up workshop to discuss practical pathways for supporting Iraq’s NDC implementation through technology cooperation, emissions reduction initiatives, and potential carbon market mechanisms aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Furthermore, the NDC outlines elevated heat peaks as a major climate hazard and vulnerability factor to be addressed through a multi-sectoral nexus approach. In line with this thinking, Iraq held its first national conference on occupational heat stress in April 2025, organized by the ILO under the EU-funded BEIT (Building Equitable and Inclusive Transformation) project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and social partners. The event aimed at accelerating comprehensive national programs to address occupational heat stress; updating occupational safety and health legislation and procedures; and intensifying training, inspections, and field awareness efforts, grounding the conference in international labour standards, particularly Conventions No. 155 and No. 187 on occupational safety and health.

Lastly, NBSAP and BioFin initiatives and projects are in place with the support of UNDP, aligned with the NDC and creating pathways for NDC implementation with regards to biodiversity goals.

Key moments of policy coordination, stakeholder consultations or social dialogue
24 Feb 2025 - Ongoing
NDC Steering Committee. | NDC Steering committee chaired by Minister of Environment with representatives from Key ministries was formed. Internal consultations across the government were held, to endorse the NDC revision process. Consultations were held with UN agencies through the UN Country Team, to identify sectors and contributions of each agency.
02 Mar 2025 - Ongoing
NDC Technical Commitee. | NDC Technical committee was established with representatives from several line-ministries as well as some representatives from local municipalities. Sectoral timeframes were set.
01 Jun 2025 - 31 Jul 2025
Sectoral Consultations. | Actors: Representatives from workers' organisations, various line ministries, and youth amongst others. | Sectoral consultations were held. Representatives from the labour union participated in some consultations during the drafting of the revised NDC 3.0, contributing to the integration of just transition and employment considerations.
15 Aug 2025
Validation of final draft and approval by steering committee.
15 Sep 2025 - 13 Nov 2025
Submission to Cabinet for discussion and final approval.
13 Nov 2025
Submission to UNFCCC.
Other stakeholders
The NDC outlines various important stakeholders and recognises the impact of climate change on vulenrable groups and populations

Youth are identified as one of the key stakeholder groups that must be meaningfully engaged in climate discourse.

  • Green and digital skills: 200,000 young people are to receive green and digital training responding to sustainable economy requirements.
  • AI and digitalisation in the climate sector: 30,000 young people are to benefit from AI and technology training specifically oriented toward the climate sector.
  • Governance: Permanent youth participation is embedded across all 19 governorates, including Al-Ayyat
  • Funding: Providing funding opportunities for youth green initiatives and innovatio
  • Psychosocial support: 100 educational and youth centres are to provide psychological services that explicitly account for climate change impacts, and 2,000 educational and social specialists are to be trained to address climate anxiety.

Other key NDC stakeholders outlined include government and official bodies, academic institutions, private sector (including SMEs), NGOs and civil society, international development partners, women, girls, and vulnerable groups, including informal workers.