Baghdad: The Iraqi Green Observatory revealed today that the number of days with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius has increased, estimating the losses per day at $150 million.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Iraq is experiencing increasing vulnerability to climate change, which is evident in rising temperatures, an increased number of days exceeding 50 degrees Celsius, and decreasing rainfall.

Before 2010, Iraq recorded 3-5 days annually with temperatures surpassing 50°C. Today, that number has escalated to 25-40 days annually in cities like Baghdad, Basra, and Maysan, marking an 800% increase over just 15 years. This surge in extreme heat has substantial economic implications, with the country losing $150 million for each day the temperature exceeds 50°C. The losses are attributed to power outages, factory shutdowns, increased fuel consumption, and decreased productivity in both the public and private sectors. The total losses for the summer of 2025 have already exceeded $9 billion.

Hospitals reported 3,200 cases of heatstroke and heat exhaustion in July 2025 alone. Furthermore, 60% of street trees have died due to local warming and an increase in dust storms, which have risen by 70%. The observatory identified several contributing factors to the rise in temperatures, including the clearing of orchards, with Baghdad losing 85% of its orchards. The city has transformed into an "island city," with an abundance of concrete buildings that store heat and release it at night. Additional factors include the flaring of associated gas, which releases millions of tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), and the reliance on generators for electricity, leading to considerable emissions and pollution in the capital and other cities across the provinces.