ERBIL () — Erbil Governor Omed Xoshnaw said Saturday that the Kurdistan Regional Government's ninth cabinet has achieved a major transformation in environmental protection, resulting in Erbil being removed from international lists of polluted cities in 2024.
In an exclusive statement to, Xoshnaw said environmental protection and improving the city's cleanliness had become key priorities of the ninth cabinet, with Prime Minister Masrour Barzani continuously directing relevant authorities to give greater attention to environmental issues.
Xoshnaw said Erbil's environmental conditions had been poor in previous years, but authorities had implemented a strategic plan involving several measures to improve the city's environment.
Among the steps, he cited efforts to increase green space by establishing and renovating parks and gardens, as well as planting and landscaping central road medians and other areas across the city.
He also highlighted the Erbil Green Belt project, which consists of eight phases and is currently in its third phase. Once completed, the project is expected to create a major environmental buffer around the city and contribute to efforts to curb desertification and lowering temperatures.
Xoshnaw said authorities had also taken measures against major sources of pollution, including the closure of unlicensed refineries and bringing licensed refineries up to international standards.
He added that authorities had intensified monitoring of vehicles that contribute to air pollution and introduced stricter environmental requirements for businesses and industrial projects.
Another major measure, according to Xoshnaw, has been the reduction in the number of privately operated electricity generators through the Runaki electricity project.
"The shutdown and significant reduction in the number of private generators under the Runaki project, the imposition of strict regulations on generators that remain in operation, and requiring restaurants, cafes and other smoke-producing businesses to comply with environmental measures have prevented the city's air from being covered in toxic smoke and put residents' health at risk,"he said.
Xoshnaw said a scientific environmental assessment of Erbil was conducted in 2023 in coordination with Erbil Polytechnic University, university professors and relevant authorities.
He said the findings at the time were highly negative, while reports by international agencies had also ranked Erbil and Baghdad among cities suffering from high levels of pollution.
However, he said that following government measures during the ninth cabinet's tenure, combined with increased public awareness, the same international agencies removed Erbil from their annual lists of polluted cities in 2024 and 2025.
Expanding Green Space and Environmental Infrastructure
According to official Kurdistan Regional Government statistics, the number of parks and gardens in Erbil increased through the construction and renovation of green spaces during the ninth cabinet, raising the city's green-space ratio from 15 percent to 20 percent.
The government has also strengthened environmental oversight of development projects, linking approvals for industrial and commercial projects to full compliance with environmental requirements and measures to reduce harmful emissions.
More than 6,000 private electricity generators have reportedly been shut down, while four stations have been established to monitor air quality in the city.
Authorities have also created 34 million square meters of firebreaks to help protect forests from wildfires.
The Erbil Green Belt is among the government's largest environmental projects. The project is being developed in a circular belt around the city, with a width of about two kilometers.
The first and second phases have been completed, while work is continuing on the third phase. Under the government's plan, around 7.7 million olive and pistachio trees will be planted, alongside 10 water ponds to support irrigation within the project area.
The project is intended to help combat desertification and rising temperatures while increasing local agricultural production and creating employment opportunities. Authorities also say the green belt will help improve air quality, reduce dust storms and provide a healthier environment for Erbil's residents.
Xoshnaw emphasized that environmental protection should not be treated as a temporary campaign, saying the government's efforts would continue as a long-term and permanent process.
