UNESCO Office for Iraq

United Nations Educational, Scientic and Cultural Organization

Iraq

Climate change in Iraq

Considered one of the Arab regions most vulnerable countries to climate change, Iraq faces a unique set of environmental challenges. The impacts of changing weather patterns have already made themselves felt in recent years, with a higher frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and rising environmental degradation throughout the country. As demographic growth puts further strain on natural resources that are themselves ever more scarce, the Governments capacity to devise and implement the necessary adaptation and mitigation policies is undermined by a daunting context of postconflict reconstruction.

June 2012

Water Scarcity
Outside the mountainous regions of the north and northeast, a majority of Iraq experiences either dry or semi-dry climate characterized by less than 150 mm of rain per year and high evaporation rates.1 Current estimates of water available for Iraq are 2,400 m3 per person

Access to safe drinking water sources

No access 21% Daily problems 16% Weekly 7% Less than weekly 15% Reliable 41%

Source: UNICEF/COSIT/KRSO/MOH Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2006

per year, meaning that with the exception of Mapping Vegetation Cover Percentage in Climate Variability Turkey, Iraqis have more water available to . Mapping Vegetation Cover Percentage in Governorates of Iraq Governorates of Iraq (Image acquisition date - 23 April 2012) wnw ow@ii aa uu ii One of Iraqs main challenges i f them than their neighbours.2 And yet, levels Mapping Vegetation Cover Percentage in Governorates of - 23 April 2012) (Image acquisition date Iraq www.iauiraq.org is adapting(Image acquisition date - 23 April 2012) to the increasing info@iauiraq .org Percentage Area in Km2 Percentage of cove of surface water in Iraqs reservoirs, lakes and Dahuk Vegetation Governorates variability of the countrys climate, Percentage Percentage of cover classes Anbar 2.0% rivers are diminished to critical levels, and Area in Km2 Dahuk Vegetation especially in terms 87.2% water supply. Governorates Babil of Erbil minimal management of aquifers and their Baghdad 74.4% Anbar 2.0% Water For instance, two 20.5% years of severe Basrah Babil 87.2% Erbil Vegetation recharge has impacted the levelBaghdad quality of and Dahuk 99.9% 74.4% Water Ninewa drought between 25.9% 2007 and 2009 Diyala Light - Da Basrah 20.5% groundwater supplies. Erbil 83.6% Vegetation Cover Dahuk 99.9% Iraqi cover classes were followed by several months of Kerbala 19.0% Ninewa Diyala 25.9% Kirkuk Light - Dark Soil Kirkuk 54.5% Water Erbil 83.6% suddenMissan heavy rainfalls and storms Iraq relies on precipitation falling outside its 38.9% Iraqi cover classes Kerbala 19.0% Vegetatio Sulaymaniyah Kirkuk during Muthanna some 1.5% which parts of central borders for more than half of Kirkuk water. This its 54.5% Najaf 3.0% Water Light Soil Missan 38.9% Salah al-Din Ninewa 29.7% and southern Iraq experienced high dependency rate makes itMuthanna vulnerable to Vegetation Cover 1.5% Qadissiya 48.4% Sulaymaniyah Dark Soil 20.5% Najaf 3.0% rainfall Salah al-Din amounts about 200% of climate change and storage projects in Turkey, Light Soil Governor Sulaymaniyah 92.2% Salah al-Din Ninewa 29.7% 47.8% Qadissiya 48.4% normal Thi-Qar values.10 The impact Dark Soil Syria and Iran.3 Discharge rates in the Tigris Wassit 44.9% Salah al-Din 20.5% Governorate Boundary Sulaymaniyah 92.2% of increased variability and Euphrates Rivers, Iraqs primary sources of Diyala Thi-Qar 47.8% in weather patterns surface water, have already fallen to less than Wassit 44.9% Anbar Baghdad includes inability to a third of normal capacity and are expected to Diyala Wassit store water Anbar during drop further in coming years. Kerbala Baghdad flash rainfall events, Babil Qadissiya Wassit abandonment of Desertification Kerbala agricultural land during Thi-Qar Missan As much as 31% of Iraqs surface is desert.4 Babil Najaf drought (resulting in a lack of Qadissiya Years of inappropriate farming practices preparedness for better rainy seasons), and mismanagement of water resources Thi-Qar Missan Basrah declining discharge rates in rivers Najaf Iraq, the in have exacerbated the effects of an already alarming trend of shrinking of the Marshlands, dry climate and contributed to increasing soil loss and increasing salinization of the Muthanna rates of desertification. Declining fertility, Basrah Shatt al-Arab and groundwater in the south.11 high soil salinity, erosion and the extension The Inter-Agency Information and Analysis Unit is supported by UNAMI of sand dunes are pervasive problems.5 The Muthanna Socio-Economic Impact Government of Iraq reports that 28% of the 6 In the absence of immediate action, the countrys land is arable, of which an average 16% report that they have daily problems with The Inter-Agency Information and Analysis Unit is supported by UNAMI potential implications of Iraqs current climate of 100 000 donum7 is lost each year to supply.13 The situation is much worse in rural challenges are alarming. After having tripled degradation.8 Meanwhile 39% of the countrys areas, where only 43% have access to safe to 30 million between 1970 and 2007, Iraqi surface is estimated to have been affected by drinking water.14 populations continued growth will result desertification, with an additional 54% under Reductions in water supply are having a direct in an increasing requirement for water and threat.9 As a result of declining soil moisture impact on Iraqs hydroelectric power plants, agricultural output. Access and quality of water and lack of vegetative cover, recent years have a sector which currently generates 20% of for drinking and agriculture are already poor. witnessed an increase in the frequency of vast the countrys electricity.15 Drought and water The drinking water network is contaminated dust and sand storms, often originating in the scarcity are also increasingly identified as by wastewater from leaking sewage pipes and western parts of Iraq. 12 leading factors behind internal displacement septic tanks. 20% of households in Iraq rely and unplanned urbanization.16 Unreliable on an unsafe source of drinking and a further

Governorate and district bounda sources. This map shows name administrative boundaries corres developped by IOM and OCHA,

Governorate and district boundaries in Iraq vary amongst sources. This map shows names, spellings and administrative boundaries corresponding to the data developped by IOM and OCHA, August 2008.

Map Doc Name:IAU_Iraq Veg Projection Datum: Web Resources:

Creation Date:

Nominal scale at A1 paper si Map Doc Name:IAU_Iraq Vegetation Cover_April 2012.pdf

Creation Date:

9 May 2012

Projection Datum: Web Resources:

Geographic WGS 1984 Map data sources: http://www.iauiraq.org

USGS: MODIS satellite Image

Nominal scale at A1 paper size:

Map data sources: USGS: MODIS satellite Image 23 April 2012

Disclaimer: The designations employed an material on this map do not imp opinion whatsoever on the part United Nations concerning the territory, city or area or of its au delimitation of its frontiers or bo

Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

TUR

SYR

Iraq

SAU

KW

TUR

SYR

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KWT

Climate change in Iraq Fact sheet

water supplies and declining soil fertility have a profound impact on agriculture, in employment and output. This sector, which already withdraws 92% of total freshwater for irrigation and food production,17 plays a vital role in Iraqs rural economy where it currently accounts for 36% of all jobs.18 During the drought between 2007-2009, almost 40% of cropland throughout Iraq experienced reduced crop coverage and livestock were decimated.19 The situation caused 20,000 rural inhabitants to move in search of more sustainable access to drinking water and livelihoods.20 Similar occurrences in the future will further increase the pressure on the Governments infrastructure and provision of quality basic services. Increasingly frequent dust and sand storms (especially severe in 2012) cause significant disruptions in transportation systems in Iraq and result in hundreds of Iraqis seeking medical help, suffering from choking, eye problems and increased incidence of asthma attacks.21

UN and Government Response

UNDP and UNEP jointly support the Ministry of Environment on the development of a National Environmental Strategy and Action Plan, the Iraq State of Environment and the development of the Iraq first National Communication to the UNFCCC COP. UNDP has been working to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Water Resources and supporting the development of a National Water Council. UNDP, UNIDO and UNEP have joint initiatives for development of mitigation approaches, Clean Development Mechanisms and renewable energy. UNDP is also assisting the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) in developing Local Water Committees to improve water governance at the sub-regional level, ensuring that the water supply and quality issues specific to each sub-region can be properly tackled by the full range of water users UNESCO is leading the UN Country Team and UNAMIs efforts to draw up an integrated strategy for supporting the restoration of the Marshlands. UNESCO has also launched

a scientific survey of Iraqs groundwater to improve government capacity to address water scarcity and improve agricultural planning. FAO is supporting the Ministry of Water Resources and the Governorate of Erbil in the rehabilitation of infrastructure to enhance water supply and drainage across eight governorates. As the lead UN agency for agriculture, food security, environment and natural resource management under the International Compact with Iraq (ICI) launched in 2007. FAO supported implementation of activities focused in irrigation and water supply systems, generation of employment through small-scale cottage industries, livestock and veterinary services, seed production, palm sector and fish farming. WHO has supported the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works and the Ministry of Environment in conducting sanitary inspection for about 1,600 drinking water resources at Suleimaniya, Thi-Qar and Anbar. WHO has provided technical and logistical support to the Ministry of Environment to implement environmental awareness and education campaigns. Hygiene awareness campaigns were implemented in six governorates.

Drought and Impact on Agriculture

(2007 - 2009)

Dahuk Ninewa Erbil Kirkuk Salah al-Din Diyala Anbar Baghdad KerbalaBabil
Wassit

Sulaymaniyah

Qadissiya Najaf

Missan Thi-Qar

Muthanna

Basrah

Affected Cropland / Percentage of Cropland

46% - 56% 6% - 25%
Source: FAO, IAU (2009)

31% - 45% 4% - 5%

26% - 30%

Water Supply by Country

Turkey

Syri an Arab Republ i c

Internal to Iraq Syria 9% 4% Iran 7%

Isl ami c Republ i c of Iran

Endnotes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Ministry of Environment Annual Report 2010 FAO 2010 FAO AQUASTAT 2009 Ministry of Environment Annual Report 2010 Ibid Ibid 1 donum in Iraq is equal to 2500 sq m, or 0.4 hectares. Iraq National Development Plan (2010-2014) Iraq Ministry of Environment Annual Report 2009 United States Department of Agriculture, May 11, 2010. Foreign Agricultural Service, Commodity Intelligence Report

Jordan

Turkey 80%

Saudi Arabi a

Source: Ministry of Water Resources Iraq 2010

Kuwai t

11 Problem Statement: UNDP Water- Climate Change Workshop 2010 12 UN Country Team in Iraq, Common Country Assessment (2009) 13 UNICEF/COSIT/KRSO MICS 2006 14 UNICEF/COSIT/KRSO MICS 2006 15 Ministry of Environment Annual Report 2010 16 IOM 2011 Annual Report 17 Water Resources Institute. United Nations World Water Development Report 3 2009 18 Iraq Knowledge Network 2011 19 FAO/IAU Drought Mapping Analysis 2009 20 IOM, Emergency Monitoring and Needs Assessments: Post-2006 Displacement in Iraq 1 October Monthly Report (October 2009) 21 Problem Statement: UNDP Water- Climate Change Workshop 2010

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