Iraq is one of the regions most affected by climate change around the world. These multidimensional effects of climate and pollution must be taken into consideration when estimating both climate and air pollution-related impacts, in order to develop appropriate health policies and measures to address both current and future climate and pollution challenges. The study was conducted in the Iraqi governorate of Salah al-Din, during the fall, winter and spring seasons of the year 2021-2022, with the aim of evaluating the level of pollutants in the atmospheric air for three regions: Abotuama rural area, Baiji oil refinery and the city of Tikrit. The concentrations of each of the toxic gases were measured: SO2, NO, NO2, HCL, HF, TVOC, CO2 and CO, as well as temperatures. Significant differences were found between the study locations and seasons for all the variables that were tested, as Baiji refinery recorded the highest concentrations of SO2, NO, NO2, HCL, FH and TVOC at 3.5 ppm, 10.78 ppm, 7.475 ppm, 13.1 ppm, 0.8 mg m-3 and 15.25 ppm, respectively. The site of Tikrit recorded the highest concentrations of CO2 and CO, which were 1016 ppm and 29.85 mg m-3, respectively. While the spring season recorded the highest concentrations of SO2, HCL, TVOC and CO compounds, followed by the winter season of NO2, FH and TVOC compounds, the temperature rates were identical in the three study sites and during the fall, winter and spring seasons, reaching 30.25, 12.5 and 31 & DEG;C during the three seasons, respectively. The results of analyzing the relationship between temperature and pollutant concentrations showed that SO2, NO, HCl, and CO increase in hot seasons, while NO2, HF, TVOC, and CO2 pollutant concentrations increase during cold seasons.
This study aims to determine the reasons for the increase in the frequency of sand and dust storms in the Middle East and to identify their sources and mitigate them. A set of climatic data from 60 years (1960-2022) was analyzed. Sand storms in Iraq are a silty sand mature arkose composed of 72.7% sand, 25.1% silt, and 2.19% clay; the clay fraction in dust storms constitutes 70%, with a small amount of silt (20.6%) and sand (9.4%). Dust and sand storms (%) are composed of quartz (49.2, 67.1), feldspar (4.9, 20.9), calcite (38, 5), gypsum (4.8, 0.4), dolomite (0.8, 1.0), and heavy minerals (3.2, 6.6). Increasing temperatures in Iraq, by an average of 2 degrees C for sixty years, have contributed to an increase in the number of dust storms from 75 to 200 times annually. North African storms affect the Middle East, with a monthly average exceeding 300 g/m(3) in peak dust seasons. To reduce the negative impacts on public health, property, and infrastructure, the study suggests solutions to mitigate them, including reducing carbon dioxide gas emissions to prevent the expansion of drought and the afforestation of the desert with plants adapted to drought using advanced techniques and avoiding land overuse.
Extreme weather conditions across Iraq influence people’s psychosocial wellbeing, particularly the wellbeing of internally displaced persons (IDPs). This research examines the perceptions of climate change, as well as its causes and impacts on the everyday lives of IDPs in Iraq, and what needs to be done to mitigate these impacts. Following a literature review, this study presents a survey developed and carried out by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) with IDPs in Ninewa and Duhok camp settings to assess interest in climate change, the impacts of climate change on the IDP population, the observed importance of addressing climate change and what actions can be taken to mitigate such impacts. Key research findings illustrate that most IDPs (80%) have observed climate change in their lives and have been affected directly by climate change (74%). Apart from detailing these findings, the study presents the solutions suggested by the IDPs to address climate change impacts. Based on these suggestions, this study then introduces policy-relevant recommendations to enhance the psychosocial wellbeing of the IDPs across Iraq and support government authorities, national policymakers and humanitarian actors in responding to the needs of the affected population associated with the consequences of climate change.
