Solar Energy and Sustainable Development in Iraq : Reducing Environmental Degradation in a Post-Conflict Context

This thesis investigates how solar energy contributes to sustainable development in post-conflict Iraq, using the urban neighbourhood of Hay Al-Khadraa in Baghdad as a case study. Grounded in Ecological Modernization Theory (EMT), the research examines the factors affecting the adoption of solar energy. Data was collected through field observations, generator mapping, an online survey, and an expert interview. Findings reveal a heavy reliance on community-level generators due to institutional fragmentation, economic barriers, and weak public trust in solar providers. Despite high awareness and interest in solar energy, adoption remains limited and uneven. Small-scale solar installations exist but operate largely without state support or regulatory oversight. While EMT helps explain the focus on technological solutions, it overlooks Iraq’s structural constraints, such as dependence on foreign expertise and the absence of an integrated national policy. The study concludes that a sustainable energy transition in Iraq requires more than technological readiness. It depends on policy coordination, financial accessibility, and stronger local governance. Without these, solar energy risks becoming another symbolic solution rather than a scalable pathway toward environmental and social resilience.