Climate Variability, Rural Livelihoods, and Environmental Peacebuilding in North and East Syria

Lovisa Rosenquist Ohlsson, Lund University (Sweden)

North and East Syria has experienced multiple crises for the past few decades, with 15 years of civil conflict, political instability and climate variations impacting the Syrian people. Much research has focused on investigating and discussing the role of climate change in the onset Syrian civil war. We propose a stronger focus on climate risks and adaptation in conflict settings and investigate the impacts of climate change on rural communities in the region. Through spatial analysis of climatic trends and survey data from 194 local farmers, we investigate the biophysical challenges together with the lived experiences and adaptation needs of farmers in North and East Syria. Furthermore, we engage in a discussion about climate adaptation as part of environmental peacebuilding in the region.

This presentation is part of a proposed panel on "Climate Change, Community Governance, and Environmental Justice in Syria: Insights from the 3-year ECO-Syria Project."