Health and climate change: country profile 2021: Iraq

This WHO/EMRO UNFCCC health and climate change country profile for Iraq provides a summary of available evidence on climate hazards, health vulnerabilities, health impacts and progress to date in health sector efforts to realize a climate-resilient health system. The WHO and UNFCCC Health and Climate Change Country Profile Project monitors the health impacts of climate change and progress in building climate resilient health systems. By publishing updated country profiles every four years, the project not only provides a snapshot on a range of national health and climate change indicators, but also creates a mechanism to track climate-related health impacts and responses over time.

Increasing temperatures and changing precipitation patterns have led to recurrent droughts, desertification and more frequent sand storms. Moreover, climate change exposes countries of the MENA region to sea level rise, particularly those with deltaic areas (Tigris–Euphrates delta) as in Iraq. Such climatic changes pose significant health risks, including heat stress, foodborne diseases, waterborne diseases, respiratory diseases and malnutrition.