Tackling Water Scarcity, Desertification, and Emissions

Iraq is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and has been facing significant environmental challenges such as water scarcity, rising temperatures, and desertification. These issues have severely impacted the country’s economic and social development, making Iraq one of the nations most affected by climate change.

Major Climate Challenges in Iraq:

1. Water Scarcity: Iraq faces a severe water crisis. Reduced rainfall, increased evaporation due to global warming, and dam construction by neighboring countries like Turkey and Iran on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have led to a drastic reduction in water resources. This has directly affected agriculture and led to the salinization of farmland.

2. Desertification: Rapid desertification due to climate change and poor management of natural resources has impacted large areas of Iraq. Reports suggest that about 39% of Iraq’s land is at risk of desertification, directly affecting the livelihoods of farmers and rural residents(UNDP).

3. Rising Temperatures: Iraq has experienced some of the highest temperature increases in recent years. This rise in temperature not only puts more pressure on water resources but also creates serious health problems, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and children(UNDP).

Iraq’s Global Climate Efforts:

1. Participation in Global Climate Conferences (COP): Iraq has been actively involved in international climate conferences such as COP26 and COP28. At these summits, Iraq has focused on key issues such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, addressing gas flaring (burning of excess gas from oil extraction), and investing in clean energy. Iraq is also seeking international financial support and advanced technologies to achieve its emission reduction goals(UNDP).

2. International Cooperation Programs: Iraq has collaborated with various international organizations like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to create national climate adaptation plans (NAP). These plans aim to strengthen Iraq’s capacity to deal with climate change in key sectors like agriculture and water(UNDP)(UNDP).

3. Focus on Sustainable Agriculture and Water Management: Iraq, with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other organizations, is promoting smart and sustainable agricultural practices. This includes using smart irrigation systems, introducing drought-resistant crops, and promoting solar energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels(UNDP).

4. Health and Climate Change: The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with Iraq’s government, has been working to make the health system more resilient to climate change. This includes creating climate change units in the Ministry of Health and adopting a “One Health” approach that links human, animal, and environmental health(UNDP).

Conclusion:

Iraq is taking important steps to tackle climate change through national policies and international collaboration. However, the country continues to face serious challenges, and long-term commitments along with broader global cooperation will be essential for Iraq to build resilience against the impacts of climate change.