An aerial view shows the Hadarat bridge across the Euphrates River that is witnessing a sharp decrease in water levels, in Nassiriya on February 26, 2023. (AFP)

Volker Turk, the United Nations human rights chief, emphasized the urgency of Iraq's escalating temperatures and prolonged drought, labeling it a global "wake-up call."

During his visit to Baghdad, Turk said, as quoted by AFP, that Iraq ranks among the five nations most significantly impacted by certain consequences of climate change. Iraq is currently facing its fourth successive summer of drought, with temperatures soaring to approximately 50 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) in various regions, including the capital city of Baghdad and the southern areas.

"Rising temperatures plus the drought, and the fact that the loss of diversity is a reality, is a wake-up call for Iraq and for the world," Turk said.

"When we look into the situation of these communities we look into our future," he added.

"The era of global boiling has come and here we can live it and see it on a daily basis," Turk said at the end of his four-day visit, echoing comments by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last month.

Guterres said, "The era of global warming has ended. The era of global boiling has arrived."

He urged swift and decisive measures, especially as scientists have verified that July is heading toward becoming the warmest month ever documented.

In the southern part of Iraq, elevated salinity levels have adversely affected fishing in the Shatt Al-Arab waterway, where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers converge before flowing into the Gulf. During his visit to the south, Turk revealed during a press conference that community leaders and others showed him images of flourishing date palm trees that used to adorn parts of the now-desiccated Shatt Al-Arab waterway just three decades ago.

While Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia Al-Sudani has pledged to prioritize efforts against climate change, activists argue that minimal action has been taken. Turk also addressed the news conference, mentioning reports of violence, threats, and intimidation targeted at environmental activists in Iraq.