The Mesopotamian Marshes gave rise to some of humanity’s earliest innovations in agriculture, trade, and water management. In this keynote, Azzam Alwash traces their story—from ecological destruction and revival to the challenges of climate change today—and explores how the Middle East can build a prosperous post-oil future rooted in its history. From solar energy and regional water cooperation to AI and new trade networks, this is a vision of climate action as an opportunity for renewal.

About the Speaker

Azzam Alwash is an Iraqi engineer and environmentalist who led the restoration of Iraq’s Mesopotamian Marshes, one of the world’s most celebrated ecological recovery projects. Founder of Nature Iraq and recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize, he is a prominent advocate for water security, climate resilience, and sustainable development across the Middle East.