Known as the cradle of civilization, the Tigris-Euphrates Rivers basin has experienced dramatic environmental and social changes throughout its history. The landscape appearances and social evolution paths of the region were greatly influenced by the environmental disparities, both internal and external, within the region and in interactions with other regions. As the growing population, rising temperature and declining precipitation, water availability will continue to be one of the main issues that constantly arises conflicts between the nations.

The past and present appearance of the region are closely tied to its environmental evolution. Static geography sets the initial prerequisites for settlements, while the dynamic climate continuously reshapes its surrounding contexts over the past 25,000 years. The presence of resources, including water and fertile lands, paired with effects from the continuously changing climate together determined the migration patterns of early settlers.

Future environmental shifts will complicate the existing socio-political conditions, intensifying water scarcity and subsequently triggering a sequence of social insecurity issues. In the meantime, a positive feedback loop risks being established whereby social consequences of water shortage in turn accelerate resource extraction.

Current environmental conditions in the river basin highlight various inequities across multiple scales. The unique climatic and geographical features in this region reshape its distinctive landscapes. These environmental disparities, compared to other areas, give rise to concerns related to both environmental and social injustice.

The Tigris-Euphrates Rivers basin is disproportionately more affected by climate change than many other parts of the world, even though its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming is minimal on a global scale. A faster rising temperature and declining rainfall trend compared to the majority of the world is observed in the overall river basin region.

Iraq, being the downstream country in the river basin, has consistently borne the most significant burden among the four. The river basin consists of four nations with different ethnicities, religions and economic status, and the flow of water in Iraq is accumulatively impacted by the upstream nations.

In southern Iraq, the city of Basra is facing a more environmental unjust situation, not only because of being the last downstream city that accepts all river discharge and irrigation drainage before the river empties into the Persian Gulf, but also the first city when sea water intrudes into the land due to sea level rise.

Inland seawater intrusion increases the already saline land due to high surface temperature, high evaporation and low precipitation, causing agriculture failure and climate migration. Approximately 35.7% of areas with vegetation cover and 45.9% of marshlands have been transformed into salt meadows and salt crust. The city will lose its previous advantage as a coastal city capable of facilitating trade, shipping activities, and oil production industries.