Policy Briefs
Dams as Drivers of Droughts and Water Pollution: Evidence from the Euphrates-Tigris Basin in Turkey and Iraq
No.
PB 61
Publisher
ERF
Date
November, 2021
Topic
Q. Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics, Environmental and Ecological Economics
Q5. Environmental Economics
In a nutshell
- Drought has erupted across the Middle East as a result of climate change and global warming, leading to a considerable reduction in rainfall and snowfall, as well as a substantial drop in water resources.
- Climate change is, without a doubt, one of Iraq’s most pressing issues, with considerable negative consequences for the environment, water resources, and the economy, particularly in the agricultural sector.
- Most of the water supplied for drinking, agriculture, and irrigation purposes in Iraq is coming from the Euphrates-Tigris basin and is being affected by climate change.
- Increased water withdrawals from other riparian countries, namely Turkey and Syria, have escalated the situation in recent decades and continue to be exacerbated today due to growing demand.
- Dams built in Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Syria increase the incidence of droughts and poor quality of drinking and agricultural water that further affect negatively the income, assets and food security of Iraqi households.
Authors
Eleftherios Giovanis
Associate Professor of Economics, Department of International...
Research Fellows
Oznur Ozdamar
Associate Professor of Economics, Department of Econometrics,...