Iraq is a country in southwestern Asia with over 40 percent of its land covered by desert (World Bank Group, 2021). It has three distinct climate zones: a warm desert climate in roughly 70 percent of the territory, a Mediterranean climate in the mountainous north, and a semi-arid transitional zone between the mountains and desert (IEA, 2025). There is significant variation in average annual temperature and precipitation between the northern highlands and the southern desert (Red Crecent Society, 2022).  

Iraq faces high exposure to the physical risks of climate change, including increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves (World Bank Group, 2023). Under a high emission scenario, temperatures are projected to rise dramatically by the end of the century, with parts of the south expected to experience increases of up 5.8°C compared to the 1850-1900 baseline (IEA, 2025). Water scarcity is one of the country’s most pressing challenges and, without significant intervention, is expected to worsen, with severe implications for agriculture and food security (IEA, 2025), particularly in the south. Rising temperatures and population growth are also projected to increase demand for air conditioning and refrigeration, placing additional strain on an already fragile electricity network (IEA, 2025). 

Iraq’s NDC commitments remain modest compared to that thoseof its peers. While the Electricity Law encourages the adoption of renewable energy, the country’s oil-dependent development model continues to exacerbate social divides and inequalities, leaving Iraq ill-prepared to manage the physical and financial effects of climate change (World Bank Group, 2023).