As summer nears the Iraqi government has announced several initiatives to address climate change. The question remains is if they will do enough as conditions continue to deteriorate and the country faces an environmental disaster.
First, on April 3 Iraq signed a 10 year deal with Turkey to assure water flows down the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This follows an April 2024 strategic water agreement between the two. The two rivers provide the majority of water to Iraq and its farming industry.
Second, Prime Minister Mohammed Sudani announced a Regional Initiative to Protect the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers which is aimed at using technology to fight climate change and manage the two rivers.
Finally on May 26 the director of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization said it was committing $39 million to work with the Iraqi government to fight drought, water shortages and land degradation in Karbala, Najaf and Muthanna.
The need for immediate government action is past due. The Water Ministry said water reserves were at an 80 year low due to a dry rainy season. The country should have 18 billion cubic meters of water but only has around 10 billion. The International Organization for Migration reported that 172,206 people were displaced in 12 provinces due to climate change and this number is only increasing. The Dukan Dam in Sulaymaniya shut down at the start of May due to a lack of water and another dam is operating at far below capacity as well. The water buffalo population which is a mainstay of the Marsh Arabs has dropped by 50% due to drought.
There are stories like this every month because Iraq is one of the countries most affected by global warming. At the same time this shows that the government is not doing enough to address the problems and their causes.
Water flow down the Tigris and Euphrates for example has been a point of contention between Iraq and its neighbors for years now. Various agreements have been made but the situation continues to deteriorate showing that nations like Turkey are not serious about cooperating and that Baghdad has little leverage to get them to change course.
Internally, there has been little progress as well. Iraqi farmers still use old techniques which waste a huge amount of water. There have been various programs to modernize agriculture but they have not made serious changes.
The government often lies about making progress as well such as in 2023 when the Water Ministry claimed it had enough water reserves and Turkey increased water down the Tigris and Euphrates only to admit a few days later that reserves were at the lowest level in history and there was less water coming down Iraq’s two main waterways.
This all shows a lack of seriousness by the authorities to deal with the environment. This is likely due to the elite not caring about the issue. Their main concerns are to stay in power and loot the state. Their interest in the common people has proven slim which means climate change will continue to devastate the country.
SOURCES
The Insight International, “Water shortages halt hydropower at Dukan dam, Iraqi Kurdistan,” 5/5/25
Al Mada, “Drought displaces more than 28,000 rural families in central and southern Iraq," 5/12/25
The National, “Iraq’s water reserves fall by nearly half to lowest levels in 80 years,” 5/25/25
Reuters, “Droughts in Iraq endanger buffalo, and farmers’ livelihoods,” 4/30/25
Rudaw, “Iraq has ten years of water security from Turkey: Ministry," 4/3/25
Salem, Amr, “Baghdad, FAO launch $39 million climate resilience initiative,” Iraqi News, 5/26/25
Xinhua, “Iraqi PM announces initiative to protect Tigris, Euphrates rivers,” 5/25/25
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