Climate-change extremes threaten Iraq

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Source: Science Magazine

Original: https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.aee9226?af=R...

Published: 2026-01-15T07:00:10Z

Iraq is among the five countries most threatened by climate change in the world[1]. The country is warming twice as fast as the global average[1]. The number of days with temperatures above 49°C will increase from around 14 per year to more than 40 over the next two decades[1]. Climate change and environmental degradation have displaced more than 55,000 people, representing about 13 percent[1]. UNICEF estimates that by 2050, every child in Iraq will be exposed to high severity heat waves[1]. High temperatures already put 6 percent of children at risk of extreme heat, with children suffering more due to poorer body temperature regulation[1]. In Baghdad, the situation is worst due to the lack of green areas, uncontrolled urbanism and dysfunctional house designs[1]. Dust storms and droughts exacerbate health problems, especially for people with chronic respiratory diseases[3][5].