The American University of Iraq-Baghdad (AUIB) hosted the Green Iraqi Innovators Conference and Competition which brought together students, professionals, and sustainability advocates to explore the urgently needed innovative solutions for Iraq’s environmental challenges. Co-organized by the United Nations’ Youth Advisory Council Iraq (UNYAC) and AUIB’s student Green Club, the event served to foster dialogue, creativity, and collaboration among young changemakers who are shaping a greener and more sustainable Iraq; all in a dynamic, student-led environment, qualitatively enriched by the knowledge and experiences of specialized academics, entrepreneurs, and various leaders in the field.
The end targets pursued by the organizers, with the full support of AUIB’s Center for Climate Change, Water Security, and Environmental Sustainability (CWE), were to raise awareness of how highly urgent is addressing the threats posed by climate change and dwindling water resources, as well as to foster the development of “investible ideas” that would lead tangible, economically viable results, in this regard, in addition to informing and advising relevant policy-making, and also creating jobs for Iraq’s talented youth, especially, as per CWE Director, Dr. David Kargbo, who opened the event that witnessed project presentations from emerging innovators competing for the top award.