IRAQ: Greenpeace and Green Rights: Iraq submits to parliament a draft law to make the polluter pay for environmental justice.

Basra, Iraq, May 19, 2025 / EINPresswire.com / -- In a move that could introduce the "polluter pays" principle to Iraq and the entire Middle East for the first time, Basra's civil society announced today at a press conference that it has submitted a proposal to

amend Iraq's Environmental Protection and Improvement Law No. 27 of 2009 to the Council of Representatives, in collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Environment. This could mark a historic shift toward environmental justice in one of the most oil-dependent countries in the region.

The draft proposes requiring polluting companies, including fossil fuel companies such as gas, oil, and coal, to pay environmental taxes and fees, which would be used to fund environmental restoration and public health protection projects. The amendment also proposes that these funds be redistributed and directed to communities directly affected by pollution through a decentralized, locally managed mechanism, a necessary step to address the roots of environmental and social inequality in Iraq.

This legal action comes as a result of a popular petition launched by the people of Basra in collaboration with Greenpeace MENA's Sawt platform. Through its " Polluter Pays " campaign, Greenpeace provided legal and advisory support on policy development and the equitable redistribution of funds to affected communities, and contributed to the draft law in collaboration with environmental experts and local community representatives. The proposed amendments were then submitted to the Ministry of Environment, subject to a parliamentary review process.

Speaking at the conference, Falah Al-Amiri, founder of Green Rights and a key co-author of the draft law, said,

"We are here today to highlight the importance and necessity of achieving environmental justice in Basra, improving the deteriorating environmental situation, and eliminating environmental injustice and racism, which have become a direct threat to the lives and health of the population and the sustainability of depleted natural resources."

He added, "We declare our demand to amend the Environmental Protection and Improvement Law, and we had previously submitted a proposal to add a chapter on environmental taxes. This draft law, a long-awaited step, recognizes this injustice and attempts to rectify it by holding major and historical polluters legally and financially responsible."

The draft law is based on Article 33 of the Iraqi Constitution, which stipulates the right of every individual to live in a healthy environment and obligates the state to protect biodiversity. The draft law adds a new chapter establishing an "environmental tax" as a financial and legislative tool to achieve environmental justice. The law also prohibits environmental discrimination, ensures corporate accountability, and provides compensation for communities suffering from industrial pollution, displacement, health crises, and climate impacts.

Basra, one of Iraq's richest oil-rich governorates, is one of the regions most exposed to environmental hazards. Despite its significant contribution to Iraq's national revenues, its residents bear the brunt of environmental degradation, health problems, and climate impacts. Iraq faces chronic air and water pollution, a collapsing agricultural system, and a persistently high rate of cancer.

Commenting on the introduction of the draft law amendment, Kinzi Azmi, the regional officer for the "Polluter Pays" campaign at Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa, said:

“This is a pivotal moment for Iraq. By demanding the inclusion of the ‘polluter pays’ principle in national law, Iraq has an opportunity to set a precedent that prioritizes people over profits and become a leader in the region, and even globally,”

Azmi added. “If the proposed amendments are passed, it will be a major victory for affected communities and civil society working hand in hand with the government to ensure that the needs of the most affected communities are included in environmental law,” she added, emphasizing the inextricable links between environmental and climate justice, on the one hand, and social justice, on the other. “If implemented, this law will give government agencies the legal authority and financial tools to protect public health, invest in just transition, and enforce accountability,”

said economist Majed Abu Kalal, lead advisor and author of the draft law. “It is a law that gives power back to communities rather than simply imposing it from the top down.” Iraq, the Middle East and North Africa region, and the Global South need billions of dollars in funding to address climate losses and damages resulting from rising temperatures, desertification, water scarcity, and mass displacement. A recent study indicates that the world's largest corporations have caused climate losses estimated at $28 trillion, with the most vulnerable communities bearing the brunt. In contrast, the five largest global oil companies—ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, TotalEnergies, and Eni—earned profits exceeding $90 billion in 2024, as a result of the continued expansion of fossil fuel extraction. In this context, Azmi emphasized that "shifting revenues from polluters to directly affected communities is a moral imperative and a strategic necessity," adding, "If this law is passed, Iraq will become the first country in the region to adopt and implement the 'polluter pays' principle in national legislation, which will constitute a decisive shift in environmental governance and a regional leadership role in climate justice."