The role of inclusion in the climate-conflict nexus in Iraq

Climate change is intensifying pressures on communities across Iraq. Water scarcity, livelihood disruption, displacement and environmental degradation are affecting social relations and increasing pressures on already vulnerable communities. Focusing on Kalar, Hawija and Al-Midaina, the study examines how these climate-related pressures interact with conflict and social dynamics, with particular attention to their differentiated impacts on women and men. The analysis highlights women’s often-overlooked contributions to informal mediation, household resource management and efforts to prevent disputes over scarce resources, while also identifying their limited participation in formal decision-making on climate adaptation, natural resource management and conflict prevention. The report presents key findings and recommendations for strengthening women’s leadership and integrating climate adaptation, livelihoods, psychosocial wellbeing and conflict prevention to build community resilience.

Year 2026
Author(s) Khanda Assad, Pakhshan Kakawais

Water Directorate official facilitating a preparations meeting for the Water Users Association board elections.

How communities are building climate resilience through shared water governance in Balad, Iraq

Faced with growing water scarcity and rising tensions, farmers, tribal leaders, community representatives, and local authorities came together to create Iraq’s largest Water Users Association.

Impact

Boys play in a dried up dam in Khawlan, Yemen, one of the world's most water-stressed countries, where climate change-induced drought and the lack of sustainable water supplies prevail.

How local authorities in Yemen respond to the effects of the climate crisis

Local authorities gathered at a conference in Mukalla, Yemen in order to develop responses to environmental degradation.

blog post 5 Dec 2023
Author(s) Hasan Shujaa

Supporting climate-focused local-level dialogues in Iraq

Building on climate-focused mediation and peacebuilding, the project aims to support local-level dialogue to address climate security risks in Iraq.

Past Project 2022 - 2023

A plant is sprouting from the cracks of a dry, cracked surface.

How transformative transitional justice can help us understand local climate action

Transformative transitional justice provides new entry points for a more transformative global climate justice ecosystem.

feature 25 Jun 2026

Climate-focused mediation and peacebuilding in Iraq

This project focuses on climate-focused mediation and peacebuilding in different districts throughout Iraq.

Current Project

Climate change effects on conflict dynamics in IraqStudy of Makhmur, Tal Afar, and Al-Rifai districts

The negative effects of climate change and the security risks associated with it are beginning to register across Iraq. Over the past decade, the rise in extreme weather events, such as high temperatures, droughts, desertification, flooding, and sand and dust storms, has caused various severe consequences, including water scarcity, loss of economic livelihoods (particularly for those relying on the agricultural sector), climateinduced displacement and migration, and a rise in food insecurity.

Year 2023

آثار تغيّّر المناخ على ديناميّات النزاع في العراقدراسة أقضية مخمور وتلعفر والرفاعي

بدأ العراق يشعر بوطأة تغيُّر المناخ وزيادة المخاطر الأمنيّة ذات الصلة. وكان لزيادة الظواهر الجويّة القصوى خلال العقد الماضي – بدءًا من درجات الحرارة المرتفعة والجفاف والتصحّر وصولًا إلى الفيضانات والعواصف الرمليّة والغباريّة - عواقب وخيمة عدّة، بما في ذلك ندرة المياه وفقدان سبل العيش الاقتصاديّة، (ولا سيّما بالنسبة إلى الأشخاص المعتمدين على القطاع الزراعي)، والنزوح والهجرة بسبب المناخ، وتزايد انعدام الأمن الغذائي. كما ازدادت قابليّة البلد على التأثّر بهذه العواقب بسبب القدرات المحدودة ونقص الهياكل والآليات التي يمكنها الاستجابة بشكل فعّال لآثار تغّير المناخ والتخفيف من حدّتها. فآثار تغيُّر المناخ أدَّت إلى تفاقم التحدّيات الكثيرة التي تواجهها البلاد، خصوصًا تلك المرتبطة بالنزاع الأخير مع ما يُسمّى بتنظيم الدولة الإسلاميّة (المعروف أيضًا باسم داعش)، فضلًا عن الاستبعاد السياسي وسوء الحوكمة.

Year 2023

کاریگەری گۆڕانی کەشوهەوا لەسەر داینامیکی ململانێکان لە عێراقلێکۆڵینەوە لە قەزاکانی مەخمور، تەلعەفەر، و ئەلریفای

کاریگەرییە نەرێنییەکانی گۆڕانی کەشوهەوا و مەترسییە ئەمنییەکانی پەیوەست بەوەوە لە سەرانسەری عێراقدا دەستیان پێکردووە. لە ماوەی دەیەی ڕابردوودا، بەرزبوونەوەی ڕووداوە توندەکانی کەشوهەوا، وەک بەرزبوونەوەی پلەکانی گەرما، وشکەساڵی، بیابانبوون، لافاو، و زریانی خۆڵ و خۆڵ بارین، لێکەوتەی ترسناک و جۆراوجۆری لێکەوتەوە، لەوانە کەمی ئاو، لەدەستدانی بژێوی ئابووری (بەتایبەت بۆ ئەوانەی وابەستەی کەرتی کشتوکاڵین)، ئاوارەبوون و کۆچکردن بەهۆی کەشوهەوا، و زیادبوونی نائاسایشی خۆراک. لاوازی وڵات بەرامبەر بە ئەم کاریگەرییانە بەرزبووەتەوە بەهۆی سنووردارکردنی تواناكان و نەبوونی پێکهاتە و میکانیزمێک کە بتوانێت بە شێوەیەکی کاریگەر وەڵامی کاریگەرییەکانی گۆڕانی کەشوهەوا بداتەوە و کەم بکاتەوە.

Year 2023

An Iraqi man walks on the dry banks of the Diyala River

Addressing climate-security risks in IraqTowards COP27: Our article series on climate and conflict

Many regions in Iraq are facing acute water shortages. Inclusive dialogue settings and climate-focused mediation can help with responding to such climate risks.

feature 2 Nov 2022