Restoring Iraq's Marshes

In this week's episode of Babel, Jon Alterman talks with Dr. Azzam Alwash, an engineer working to restore Iraq's wetlands and the founder of Nature Iraq. Dr. Alwash talks about why wetlands are important and how he and others work to convince Iraq's government to take action. Then, Jon, Natasha Hall, and McKinley Knoop discuss the relationship between climate change, governance, and trust. Azzam Alwash, “Iraq’s Climate Crisis Requires Bold Cooperation,” The Century Foundation, December 14, 2020.  Will Todman, "Iraq's Explosive Plague," CSIS, April 15, 2019. Azzam Alwash, “The Mosul Dam: Turning a Potential Disaster into a Win-Win Solution,” Viewpoints 68, Wilson Center, 2016.  Peter Schwartzstein, "Iraq's Famed Marshes Are Disappearing - Again," National Geographic, July 9, 2015. Episode Transcript, "Restoring Iraq's Marshes," CSIS, January 26, 2021.