Project description

Iraq flares 1.73 billion cubic feet of associated natural gas daily, representing 12 percent of global flaring and equivalent to 34.7 million tons of CO2 emissions annually. Despite diagnostic work, the cumulative economic, social, and environmental costs remained unquantified. Carbon Limits conducts a consolidated historical assessment of gas flaring impacts from 2015 to 2023, quantifying emissions, economic opportunity costs, environmental pollution, and health risks. The work applies to Iraq's oil-producing regions, informing sector policy and the government's commitment to the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative. The assessment strengthens evidence-based decision-making on flaring reduction, clarifies fiscal and balance-of-payments impacts, and enables targeted action on methane and air pollutants. This work is relevant for ministries, development banks, and regulators addressing gas flaring and climate commitments in resource-dependent economies.