Iraqi Environment Minister Hallo al-Askari announced on Sunday the launch of a national project to monitor air quality in Baghdad, the country’s first such initiative.

Al-Askari noted that the initiative aims to address the country’s mounting environmental issues, given its sensitivity to climate change. He also stated that the project will eventually spread to other provinces, including those in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

The Iraqi minister clarified that the first phase of the project would comprise the establishment and deployment of specialized pollution monitoring stations in different places of the city as part of a gradual geographical expansion plan, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

A specialized center has already been built in Baghdad’s Waziriyah area, in collaboration with Iraqi universities and educational institutions, to provide better outcomes, particularly in the disciplines of environmental sciences and applied studies, according to al-Askari.

Last year, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani authorized the activation of pollution sensors at hydrological stations across the country, according to the Iraqi Ministry of Transport.

The ministry underlined the dangers pollution poses to public health, stressing that real-time monitoring of soil, water, and air quality will allow for early alerts when pollution levels surpass acceptable limits.

The step will support the protection of vulnerable populations, especially those with respiratory illnesses.

The program will enhance both environmental protection and public health while fostering scientific research.

According to the Climate and Scientific Research Center, the sensors will help authorities locate and monitor natural and industrial pollution sources, allowing them to implement customized mitigation programs.