Barzani supports using electric vehicles to protect Iraqi Kurdistan environment
Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani speaks during Kurdistan Environment Day Ceremony in Erbil, April 16, 2019. Photo: NRT TV
HEWLÊR-Erbil, Iraq’s Kurdistan region,— Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani has said that the he supports using electric vehicles as a way to protect the environment in the Kurdistan Region.
Speaking at an event marking Kurdistan Environment Day on Tuesday Barzani said that efforts should be made to promote the use of electric vehicles in the future.
“Pollution is a big risk that should be tackled,” he said.
Barzani noted that during the rule of the Saddam Regime, the Iraqi government destroyed Kurdistan’s unique nature with multiple chemical attacks, landmines and continues bombardment.
The Kurdish government and people should work to protect the environment in the Kurdistan Region and keep its air and water clean, he continued.
“The people must consider themselves as the owner of environment and the nature of the Kurdistan Region and save them and don’t let them become polluted.”
The Kurdish premier also said that people and officials should try to reduce their vehicle and petrol use and that people the Region should plant two trees instead of one.
“Everyone is responsible for the environment…Saving the environment is a moral, religious, and human responsibility,” he added.
“We will take every measure to save the environment and we will also become part of the world’s efforts to save the environment.”
Barzani further said that recycling should be improved in the Kurdistan Region and that the government should harness renewable energy technology.
The New Generation Movement has called for the increased use of electric vehicles in its 15-year strategic plan.
According to a decree from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)’s environment board, litterers and polluters in Iraqi Kurdistan Region will face steep punishments ranging from financial fines to confiscation of their vehicle under new regulations.
In 2015 a Kurdish environmentalist has warned that there are more than one hundred illegal oil refineries in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, which are a major source of pollution.
Iraqi Kurdistan government promised to close illegal oil refineries, but so far not action has been taken as Kurdistan Region is considered the most corrupted part of Iraq. According to Kurdish lawmakers and leaked documents billions of dollars are missing from Iraqi Kurdistan’s oil revenues.
Copyright © 2019, respective author or news agency, Ekurd.net | nrttv.com
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