ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Erbil, Basra, and Baghdad have some of the worst air quality in the country, exacerbated by their growing population density, according to Iraq’s deputy environment minister.
“Studies have shown that Baghdad, Basra, and Erbil are among the cities with high levels of air pollution,” Deputy Environment Minister Jassim al-Falahi told Rudaw’s Nwenar Fatih on the sidelines of the Baghdad International Water Conference late last month.
“Our monitoring stations for air quality provide evidence that these areas experience high pollution levels,” he explained.
Rising population density and a surge in the number of cars contribute to the pollution.
“Baghdad, for example, was originally designed for three million people, but now hosts over nine million residents, with two million more commuting in daily. This, combined with the surge in the number of vehicles, contributes to the pollution problem,” Falahi said.
Erbil is growing annually by an estimated 3.5 percent.
Iraqi cities lack efficient means of public transit. There are limited public bus lines, but most people use private cars or taxis, which adds to the number of vehicles on the street.
Areas where refineries are located are affected by emissions from oil production, but other regions “still face significant pollution-related issues,” said Falahi.
Air pollution has become a source of alarm across Iraq. A BBC investigation drew the devastating link between gas flaring and rising cancer rates in southern Iraq.
Falahi said infrastructure and public health must be prioritized to reduce pollution.
“Effective air quality monitoring, modern technology, and proper urban planning are essential,” he said, adding that the government has started projects to modernize infrastructure and improve air quality.
“A new national center for environmental studies has been established to collect and analyze data on pollution, providing a 100% accurate picture of hazardous pollution indicators and advising relevant authorities on necessary actions,” he said.
Updated at 11:10 am
