The Women’s Affairs Unit at Al-Polytechnic College – Al-Qadisiyah / Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, within the framework of the executive plan of the National Strategy for Iraqi Women (Paragraph Two – Axis Five), organized a workshop entitled: “The Risks of Climate Change on Health and the Environment,” in cooperation with the Department of Community Health.
The workshop was delivered by Assistant Professor Dr. Masar Jabbar Jari, Head of the Department; Assistant Lecturer Hanan Ahmed; and Assistant Lecturer Zahraa Fahmi.
The workshop addressed the concept of climate change as a long-term alteration in temperatures and weather patterns, highlighting its primary causes associated with human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels, industrial pollution, deforestation, and rapid population growth.
It also examined the major health implications of climate change, which include heat stress and heatstroke, respiratory diseases, water- and vector-borne diseases, malnutrition, as well as psychological effects resulting from natural disasters, such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
Furthermore, the workshop reviewed the impact of these changes on natural resources, particularly water scarcity, declining agricultural productivity, and threats to food security.
The workshop concluded by emphasizing the importance of integrating the roles of individuals and governments in addressing the challenges of climate change through the adoption of renewable energy sources, the reduction of polluting emissions, the promotion of environmental awareness, and the support of legislation and policies aimed at protecting the environment and public health, thereby contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals and ensuring a better future for generations to come.