Iraq is moving to plant five million trees and palms as a strategic response to the warming climate, a plan announced by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and reported by RFI. The initiative aims to create extensive green corridors across governorates, forming living barriers that can cool urban areas, trap dust, and shield neighborhoods from harsh winds. This forested expansion comes amid a long-term effort to reverse land degradation and to bolster the resilience of cities and rural communities against rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns. The government’s goal is not merely to greenscape but to rebuild ecosystems, stabilize soils, and support communities that depend on agriculture and daily livelihoods affected by climate stress. The scale of the plan underscores a broader commitment to climate adaptation at the national level, aligning with environmental policies being discussed across the region and confirmed by officials in multiple districts.
Iraq continues to endure extreme summer heat, persistent drought, and a widening threat from desertification, with dust storms known as haboobs intensifying seasonally. These weather events, driven by high temperatures and dry soils, blanket large areas in sand and dust, reducing air quality and challenging daily life. Official estimates indicate that more than seven million Iraqis are already feeling the effects of climate change, including hundreds of thousands displaced by prolonged drought and shifting water availability. In the past spring, Iraq experienced roughly a dozen significant sand or dust storms that reached major cities such as Baghdad, forcing residents indoors, prompting the suspension of aircraft operations, and closing schools to protect public health. The climate pressures also strain the economy and public infrastructure, complicating recovery efforts and elevating the need for resilient planning across sectors. The description of these events reflects the reality of a country adapting to a warming world while seeking practical, on-the-ground solutions for communities most at risk. (RFI)
To combat these threats, the government has declared a major afforestation campaign that commits to planting five million trees and palms across all provinces. The objective is to weave green belts into the landscape that can help stabilize soils, reduce windblown dust, and create microclimates that lower ambient temperatures. In practical terms, these green belts are expected to slow air flow, capture particulates, and provide shelter for crops and wildlife while contributing to biodiversity. The policy envisions a coordinated effort that brings together local authorities, communities, and environmental groups to ensure the trees survive and thrive in diverse climates and terrains, building long-term ecological and social benefits for urban centers and rural districts alike. (RFI)
Another dimension of the climate challenge stems from water resource management, specifically upstream actions in neighboring countries. Critics point to Turkey’s upstream dam projects on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers as a factor in fluctuating water levels and reduced river flows that ultimately affect Iraq’s water security and desertification pressures. These dynamics highlight the vulnerability that a nation faces when water resources are controlled upstream, sometimes without coordinated regional agreements. Analysts and policymakers alike stress that unilateral control over shared rivers can exacerbate risk for communities already grappling with climate-induced stresses, intensifying calls for regional cooperation, transparent data sharing, and joint water management strategies to mitigate negative impacts on agriculture, urban supply, and ecological health. (RFI)
In a broader context, former environmentalists have raised questions about how climate change is reshaping hydrological patterns in Arctic regions, pointing to complex global feedback mechanisms that may influence weather, moisture transport, and drought frequency far beyond Iraq’s borders. While those discussions are global in scope, they resonate locally as Iraq and neighboring nations work to adapt to shifting rainfall, soil conditions, and heat waves that threaten livelihoods and public health. The overall emphasis remains clear: proactive, science-based planning and cooperative governance are essential to reduce vulnerability, protect communities, and secure sustainable development amid a changing climate. (RFI)