Cooling the Heat: Mediation in a Warming World
Publisher: Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue
Author(s): Sebastian Kratzer
Date: 2026
Topics: Climate Change, Conflict Prevention, Cooperation, Dispute Resolution/Mediation, Peace Agreements
Countries: Congo (DRC), Iraq, Nigeria, Syrian Arab Republic
This paper shows how mediation is helping states and communities manage natural resources more peacefully and explores where and how climate- and environment-related mediation is delivering tangible impact. Drawing on case studies from Nigeria, north-east Syria, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond, the briefing examines both established and emerging thematic areas of climate-related mediation, illustrating their different approaches and impacts. It shows how mediation is helping communities manage natural resources, negotiate water-sharing arrangements, protect the environment during conflict, and strengthen resilience to climate impacts. As climate and environmental pressures intensify, these approaches are becoming an increasingly important part of peacemaking practice, reflecting how mediators are adapting to today’s climate and security realities and what it means for the future of peace processes.