Iraq explores cloud seeding partnership at Baghdad conference

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Transport held a technical meeting with representatives from Australian and German organizations to discuss launching a cloud seeding project aimed at mitigating the country’s worsening water shortages and climate challenges.

The session, held at Baghdad International Airport and attended virtually by foreign partners, included specialists from Iraq’s artificial rain team, part of the General Authority for Meteorology and Seismic Monitoring.

Dr. Salman Saddam Al-Bahadli, director general of the authority, said the meeting was held “in implementation of the directives and follow-up by Minister of Transport Razzaq Muhaibas Al-Saadawi, given the importance of this vital project.”

The discussion focused on collaboration with Germany’s CST cloud seeding company and Australia’s Artificial Rain Technology alliance. Al-Bahadli said the Iraqi team reviewed international experiences and posed technical questions to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of similar projects implemented abroad.

The initiative comes as Iraq faces mounting climate pressures. Water Resources Minister Aoun Diab recently described 2025 as a “relatively dry” year, with reserves currently at 11 billion cubic meters. He warned of insufficient snowfall and rainfall in the Tigris and Euphrates basins, impacting irrigation and food security.

Al-Bahadli said the cloud seeding initiative aims to “achieve clear goals and positive outcomes that serve the public interest,” adding that follow-up discussions will be key to determining next steps.

Iraq is among the five countries most vulnerable to climate change, according to the United Nations, with rising temperatures, severe droughts, and accelerating desertification threatening long-term water and agricultural stability.