A Visit To Baghdad
Razaq, now a freshman at UIndy, was a Reporter for YEPT in 2023/2024 when she also wrote for Elkhart High School’s ‘The Pennant.’ She is currently interning for YEPT.
Growing up in Indiana, I thought I knew what a hot summer felt like. In 2024, the state of Indiana and particularly Indianapolis recorded temperatures as high as 94°F (34°C), the hottest in several years. It was uncomfortable, sure, but life went on as usual. I could step outside during the day, run errands, and live somewhat normally.
That changed when I visited Baghdad the same summer. My mom was born in Baghdad, and she was homesick and longing to see family. It had been nearly a decade since I last visited Iraq, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. But the moment that we stepped off of the plane, the first thing I felt was the oppressive heat. With its temperatures routinely exceeding 120°F (49°C) and Iraq’s second most populous city Basra reaching a blistering 127.7°F (53.2°C), the heat so intense it made Indiana feel mild in comparison. Baghdad’s heat felt like stepping into an oven — it was a kind of scorching I had never imagined. And this trip opened my eyes to how climate change has pushed Iraq into a battle for survival and forced its people to adapt.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
Iraq is ranked as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change by the United Nations. The country faces rising temperatures, severe droughts, desertification, and shrinking water resources. Over the past 40 years, Iraq’s average annual temperature has increased by 2.5°C, which is much higher than the global average. The number of extreme heat days, where temperatures soar past 120°F (49°C), has climbed from just 14 days annually in the 1980s to 40 days today, and it’s projected to reach over 120 days per year by 2050 if current trends continue. Water flows from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which provide 98% of Iraq’s surface water, have decreased by 30-40% over the same period, leading to devastating impacts on agriculture and everyday life.
In the face of these extreme circumstances, Iraqis have adapted in creative yet difficult ways. Throughout the summer, the streets of Baghdad are quiet and empty during the day, as most people stay indoors to avoid the sweltering heat. Instead, the city comes to life at nighttime hours. Families and friends take evening walks, vendors set up their stalls under streetlights, and malls remain open well past midnight. Businesses have adjusted their hours, with many operating almost exclusively at night during the hottest months. This adaptation has created what some call a “nighttime economy,” but it comes at a cost — higher energy consumption and disrupted routines for families and workers.
The impact of climate change in Iraq goes beyond just heat. Desertification affects nearly 40% of the country’s land, and frequent sandstorms blanket cities in choking dust, which makes even breathing hazardous. In 2022, Iraq experienced its second driest season in four decades, which devastated rural communities and forced thousands of farmers to abandon their land. With the agricultural sector contributing significantly to the economy, this has had immense consequences. Crop yields for staples like wheat and barley have dropped by 70% in some areas, pushing food prices higher and exacerbating economic struggles for the poor.
Visiting Baghdad this past summer gave me a new perspective on the challenges people face in countries like Iraq. Their resilience is admirable, but resilience alone isn’t enough. Climate change is harming Iraq’s economy, infrastructure, and even its way of life. But this isn’t only an Iraqi problem, it is an international one. The international community must act swiftly to address this global crisis, not only by reducing emissions but also by providing financial and technical support to vulnerable countries like Iraq. Without meaningful action, more people will be forced into survival mode, adapting to a planet that’s becoming increasingly inhospitable.
