Latest news with #GreenKurdistan
Shafaq News
6 days ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Rwanga plants 20,000 olive trees in Erbil green push
Shafaq News/ The Rwanga Foundation announced on Sunday the completion of a major environmental project involving the planting of 20,000 drought-resistant Spanish olive trees in the Dilopa area of Kasnazan, near Erbil, as part of its 'Green Kurdistan' campaign. Led by Idris Nechirvan Barzani, President and Founder of Rwanga, the launch ceremony drew high-level attendance, including Fawzi Hariri, Chief of Staff of the Kurdistan Region Presidency, Agriculture Minister Begard Talabani, representatives of GIZ (German Agency for International Cooperation), international diplomats, and local NGOs. The project spans 55 donums of land and is expected to yield 400 tons of olives and 120 tons of olive oil annually, while producing an estimated 5 million liters of oxygen per day, significantly improving air quality in the region. Rwanga said the initiative also created 255 permanent and seasonal jobs, with priority given to women, youth, and people with disabilities. Funded in coordination with GIZ and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and supported by the Kurdistan Regional Government, the project aims to combat desertification, restore degraded land, and promote sustainable agriculture. Since its launch in 2023, the Kasnazan Olive Orchard has become the cornerstone of Rwanga's broader reforestation efforts, which have planted over 200,000 trees across the Kurdistan Region since 2020. Rwanga emphasized that this model of climate-smart agriculture and community-driven sustainability offers a replicable strategy for balancing environmental recovery with economic and social development in the face of intensifying climate challenges.
Iraq Business
23-05-2025
- General
- Iraq Business
Kulak Solar Village to Pioneer Off-Grid Renewable Living
By John Lee. Rwanga Foundation has unveiled plans for the Kulak Solar Village, Iraq's first fully off-grid, solar-powered community. Located southeast of Erbil, the pilot village will include 32 homes and house nearly 200 residents, serving as a model for rural climate resilience and energy self-sufficiency in one of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions. Entirely powered by solar energy, the community will feature 24/7 electricity, solar irrigation systems, and training in regenerative agriculture. The project responds to intensifying environmental pressures in Iraqi Kurdistan, including desertification and extreme temperatures exceeding 50°C. Idris Nechirvan Barzani, Founder and President of the Foundation, described the initiative as " a bold vision for a different future ," turning Iraq's environmental vulnerability into a platform for sustainable innovation. The village forms part of the Foundation's wider Green Kurdistan campaign, which has planted over 200,000 trees since 2020, and its Empowering Sustainable Livelihoods programme that supports cooperative farming and training. Rwanga aims to have the Kulak Solar Village fully operational by the end of 2025, with plans to replicate the model across Kurdistan and central Iraq by 2030 in collaboration with regional authorities and international partners. (Source: Rwanga Foundation)
Al Bawaba
21-05-2025
- General
- Al Bawaba
Iraq Launches First Fully Solar-Powered Village
Iraq's first fully solar-powered village has officially opened in Kulak, delivering off-grid electricity and sustainable infrastructure in response to the growing impact of climate change across the region. The project, developed by the Erbil-based Rwanga Foundation, went live on May 20 and aims to serve as a model for renewable energy deployment and climate adaptation in vulnerable rural communities. Kulak Solar Village operates entirely on solar power, providing continuous electricity and infrastructure to support solar-driven irrigation and future training in regenerative agriculture. Rwanga Foundation President Idris Nechirvan Barzani said the project was part of a broader effort to promote environmental self-sufficiency and strengthen rural livelihoods. 'Our vision is to see this model grow across Iraq—one village at a time—until sustainability becomes the standard,' he said. The initiative comes as Iraq faces increasing environmental stress, including prolonged heatwaves, water shortages, and desertification. The United Nations recently ranked Iraq as one of the world's five most climate-vulnerable countries. Kulak Solar Village forms a key part of the foundation's Green Kurdistan campaign, which aims to expand the model across Kurdistan and central Iraq by 2030 in cooperation with regional governments and international partners. Rwanga's wider environmental efforts have included planting over 200,000 trees and investing in educational and youth programmes aimed at long-term climate response.
Mid East Info
21-05-2025
- General
- Mid East Info
Iraq Opens First Fully Solar-Powered Village in Kurdistan Region - Middle East Business News and Information
Iraq Opens First Fully Solar-Powered Village in Kurdistan Region Iraq's first fully solar-powered village has officially opened in Kulak, delivering off-grid electricity and infrastructure aimed at supporting rural sustainability in the face of mounting climate pressures. The project, launched by the Erbil-based Rwanga Foundation on May 20, marks a significant step toward addressing environmental challenges such as heatwaves, drought, and desertification that increasingly affect communities across Iraq. Kulak Solar Village operates entirely on solar power and provides continuous electricity to residents. It includes infrastructure to support future solar-driven irrigation systems and training programmes in regenerative agriculture. The aim is to provide rural communities with energy autonomy and the means to restore degraded environments. Rwanga Foundation President Idris Nechirvan Barzani described the initiative as part of a long-term plan to expand similar developments across the country. 'Our vision is to see this model grow across Iraq—one village at a time—until sustainability becomes the standard,' he said. The project comes as Iraq was recently ranked among the world's five most climate-vulnerable countries by the United Nations. In this context, Kulak is being positioned as a practical example for scaling up renewable energy and land restoration in vulnerable regions. The initiative is part of Rwanga's wider Green Kurdistan campaign, which includes partnerships with local governments and international organisations. The foundation plans to replicate the model across Kurdistan and into central Iraq by 2030. Rwanga has also undertaken broader environmental programmes over the past five years, including the planting of more than 200,000 trees and investments in youth and education projects that support adaptation to environmental change.
Zawya
21-05-2025
- General
- Zawya
Iraq launches first fully solar-powered village in bid to tackle climate crisis
Iraq's first fully off-grid, solar-powered village has officially opened in the town of Kulak, signalling a new approach to tackling climate and energy challenges in the region. Developed by the Erbil-based Rwanga Foundation, the project supplies round-the-clock electricity to the village entirely through solar energy. It also incorporates systems for agricultural irrigation and is set to deliver training in climate-conscious farming techniques. The initiative comes as Iraq faces increasing environmental pressure. The United Nations recently listed the country among the five most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, citing extreme heat, desertification, and water shortages. Speaking at the launch, Idris Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Rwanga Foundation, said the project aims to support local communities with practical tools to address environmental threats while strengthening local infrastructure. Plans are in place to replicate the model in other parts of Kurdistan and central Iraq by 2030. The project forms part of the foundation's broader Green Kurdistan campaign, developed in partnership with regional authorities and international agencies. In addition to energy access, the initiative is expected to support food production and land restoration. The foundation has previously led reforestation campaigns, including the planting of more than 200,000 trees over the past five years. Rwanga's latest development is being positioned as a locally driven effort to provide rural communities with the means to withstand worsening environmental conditions through sustainable energy and agricultural practices.
