How can Iraq pursue a just and sustainable energy transition while remaining deeply dependent on oil revenues for economic stability and household livelihoods? This report, “Redefining the Just Energy Transition for Iraq,” prepared by the Institute of Regional and International Studies (IRIS) in partnership with the Arab Reform Initiative (ARI), as part of the “The Just Transition Green Bridge,” co-funded by the European Union through its Civil Society Facility for the Mediterranean, and the Kingdom of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), examines Iraq’s worsening air pollution and health risks from gas flaring, even as the country remains heavily dependent on oil. Despite repeated government pledges to reform the energy sector and expand renewables, progress has been slow, revealing deeper governance challenges shaping Iraq’s energy future.
We were grateful for the chance to work closely with environmental organizations across Iraq to develop a framework for a just energy transition that speaks to the realities of a post-conflict country in which the basis of the economy and citizens’ livelihoods hinge heavily on oil.
- Dr. Zmkan Ali Saleem, Senior Research Fellow, IRIS
The analysis explores Iraq’s deepening environmental crisis, where gas flaring and oil-related pollution continue to damage air quality and threaten public health despite repeated pledges of reform. Reflecting on the process, Zmkan Saleem, Senior Researcher at IRIS, noted: “We were grateful for the chance to work closely with environmental organizations across Iraq to develop a framework for a just energy transition that speaks to the realities of a post-conflict country in which the basis of the economy and citizens’ livelihoods hinge heavily on oil.” The report also highlights the long-standing dilemma at the heart of Iraq’s energy sector: oil revenues remain vital for the economy, yet the sector is simultaneously a major driver of environmental harm.
A just energy transition in Iraq requires recognizing that timing and phasing are essential. The process must start with harm reduction within the oil sector, grounded in transparency and accountability. Iraq must pursue a phased and pragmatic move forward that focuses on near-term harm reduction like eliminating gas flaring, while also opening the "black box" of energy governance.
- Shayan Kamil, Research Fellow, IRIS
The report outlines what a just energy transition should look like in Iraq, balancing the realities of oil dependence with the urgent need to reduce environmental and social costs. It also maps the institutions and political actors shaping the country’s energy trajectory, providing insight into the dynamics that will influence Iraq’s shift toward a more equitable and sustainable future. Shayan Kamil, Research Fellow at IRIS, emphasized: “A just energy transition in Iraq requires recognizing that timing and phasing are essential. The process must start with harm reduction within the oil sector, grounded in transparency and accountability. Iraq must pursue a phased and pragmatic move forward that focuses on near-term harm reduction like eliminating gas flaring, while also opening the ‘black box’ of energy governance.”
The IRIS experts and researchers who authored the report:
• Dr. Mac Skelton – Executive Director, IRIS
• Dr. Zmkan Saleem – Senior Research Fellow, IRIS
• Shayan Kamil – Research Fellow, IRIS
Click here or the photo below for the full report.
