Iraq Fights Back Against Climate-Fueled Dust Storms

Iraq is actively battling a surge in sand and dust storms, intensified by the escalating effects of climate change. In its southern desert, a significant project involves spreading moist clay and planting resilient vegetation to stabilize dunes and mitigate the impact of these environmental challenges. This initiative is vital as Iraq grapples with severe drought, rising temperatures, and deforestation, which collectively fuel these hazardous storms.

Authorities are concerned that the frequency of these storms, already at an estimated 243 per year, could increase to 300 by 2050 without drastic interventions. The current efforts, a collaboration between Iraqi expertise and UN-Habitat, focus on areas identified as major storm sources, including between Nasiriyah and Samawah. A key short-term goal is to enhance safety on southern highways frequently affected by poor visibility.

Beyond immediate concerns like traffic safety, the long-term objectives include increasing green spaces and reviving agricultural lands devastated by drought and water shortages. This project revives Iraq's historical expertise in combating desertification, which had been sidelined due to decades of turmoil. Progress is described as slow but steady, with hopes of reducing the severity of storms in the coming years.