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

Iraq faces high exposure to the physical risks of climate change in the form of increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (e.g., floods, droughts, and heatwaves) (World Bank Group, 2023). Under a high emission scenario, Iraq is expected to face dramatic temperature rises by the end of the century, with some areas in the south expected to face a rise of 5.8°C compared to the 1850-1900 baseline (IEA, 2025). One of the key threats Iraq faces is water scarcity which, without significant intervention, will continue to worsen with severe knock-on effects for its agricultural system and food security (IEA, 2025), particularly in the south. Rising temperatures and population growth are expected to increase demand for air conditioning and refrigeration, further burdening the country’s already vulnerable electricity network (IEA, 2025). 

It’s NDC commitments remain modest compared to its peers and Iraq’s Electricity Law does encourage the adoption of renewables, but Iraq’s development model remains oil-dependent which exacerbates social divides and inequalities that leave it ill-prepared to handle the physical and financial effects of climate change (World Bank Group, 2023).