Paper Title
MANAGING THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON IRAQ; ISSUES, CHALLENGES AND A METHODICAL WAY FORWARD.

Abstract
Abstract - Climate change is happening and is beginning to have a noticeable impact on lives, the economy and the environment in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq and the Middle East. The current approach to managing these impacts, in the region is reactive. More specifically, the efforts are primed to deliver post-event infrastructure repairs, cleaning-up operations and financial compensations. The current reactive approach is not effective and a more proactive approach is needed. However, developing this approach is problematic due to the lack of requisite reliable data and information, the reactive and ‘one size fits all’ management approach plus the reluctance of decision makers. This paper develops a Regional plan to manage the impacts of climate change on society using Geoinformatics to overcome information poverty through examining and developing various management scenarios to understand the impacts of climate change on economy, health and the environment. In addition to providing some certainty to persuade and direct decision makers towards developing and financing the necessary national plans such as developing early warning systems, effective public awareness and education programmes. Keywords - Climate Change, Management, Planning, Adaptation, Iraq