2024-10-17

Climate Change Research Center Opens at Soran University

A ceremony was held at Soran University to mark the opening of the Climate Change Research Center.

The event was attended by AP. Dr. Sherwan Sharif Qurtas,  President of Soran University; Halgord Sheikh Najib, Supervisor of Soran Independent Administration, and Engineer Abdulrahman Sdiq, President of the Environmental Protection Council, Bayan Sami Abdulrahman, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Heads of government directorates; members of the University Council, teachers, and students.

The event began with observing moments of  silence to pay homage to the pure souls of the martyrs while listening to the Kurdistan and Iraqi national anthems.

SU President delivered a speech to the audience, welcomed guests, and highlighted the significance of the Climate Change Research Center. “I’m delighted and honored to be with you today on this historic day for our university to announce the opening of the Climate Change Research Center and the development of sustainability," he said. He added, "At this very moment, we embark on the first step of a journey filled with  challenges and obstacles, which is addressing today’s most complex and sensitive issues: the rapid climate changes.”

Afterward, Engineer Abdulrahman Sdiq expressed his delight in participating in this ceremony, adding that this initiative from Soran University is welcoming because the establishment of this center comes at a time when the world, in general, is plagued with rapid climate change. He noted that they hope SU will serve as a bridge between government and environmental agencies, and that the Center will also identify the problems and causes of climate change through research and scientific work.

Later, Bayan Sami Abdulrahman, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister’s advisor on climate change, delivered a speech and congratulated Soran University on the establishment of this center. She pointed out that through  this center, good and scientific work can be done to combat climate change and to achieve this, the center should work with data and information to identify problems and find solutions for them.

The final part of the ceremony featured  a panel discussion on rapid climate change with the participation of Dr. Kamal Odishu, Head of the Climate Change Research Center, Halgord Sheikh Najib, Supervisor of Soran Independent Administration,  and Mohammed Amin, Advisor to the Iraqi President on Climate Change. They  discussed rapid climate change, its causes, and negative consequences for the environment and human beings . The panel was moderated by Nahro Zagros, a university teacher.

The importance of establishing the Climate Change Research Center
1- The center will serve as a hub for climate change data.
2- It will integrate climate change into teaching curricula
3- The scientification of environmental issues.
4- Identifying climate change causes.
5- Conducting scientific research
6- Formulating and planning..

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