Government Steps Up Efforts to Reduce Iraq’s Pollution Levels

Iraq has launched new measures to tackle worsening air pollution in the capital and several other cities following a high-level meeting chaired on Monday by Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani.

The meeting brought together the Minister of Environment, the Governor of Baghdad, senior officials from the Ministries of Electricity and Industry, the Baghdad Municipality, and the Environmental Police. Officials delivered detailed reports on pollution sources, including landfill sites, brick factories, oil refining, metal smelting, private generators, vehicle emissions, fuel storage facilities and widespread waste burning.

Al-Sudani called for coordinated short and long term solutions, stressing that pollution poses risks to economic and developmental security. He directed the Air Pollution Response Team to intensify inspections, take legal action where necessary, and submit weekly updates on pollution levels and mitigation efforts.

The Prime Minister also instructed the Ministry of Environment, Baghdad Municipality and relevant directorates to prepare the legal, technical and financial requirements needed to advance waste-management investment projects, landfill rehabilitation, river-pollution control and improved environmental performance indicators.