Op-Ed: Syria’s climate emergency: Conflict no excuse for inaction

Syria is grappling with a relentless wave of climate disasters, from scorching heatwaves and raging wildfires to debilitating droughts and choking sandstorms. These crises, increasing in both frequency and intensity, underscore the country’s accelerating vulnerability to climate change. Yet, Syria’s environmental challenges have been sidelined, overshadowed by more than 13 years of devastating conflict and instability. This neglect has resulted in a critical failure to implement climate adaptation measures, even as the consequences of inaction become increasingly severe and widespread.

The prevailing assumption that climate action must wait for stability is not just misguided—it is perilous. Stability in Syria may remain elusive for decades, and delaying climate interventions risks exacerbating an already dire situation. The need for action is urgent; the longer these crises are ignored, the closer they come to becoming irreversible. While large-scale climate initiatives may not be feasible under current conditions, there are practical and achievable steps that can still make a meaningful difference.

A priority action is integrating environmental considerations into the interventions and services provided by humanitarian organizations and de facto authorities. Although seemingly modest, this approach can help prevent unintended ecological harm and lay the groundwork for recovery. Continuing to neglect Syria’s climate challenges risks perpetuating a vicious cycle of destruction—one that not only deepens human suffering but also undermines any hope for a sustainable future.

Rising climate challenges 

Ranked 146th out of 181 nations on the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN) index, Syria stands among the countries most severely affected by the global climate crisis, underscoring the nation’s acute vulnerability and limited resilience against climate change. 

Prolonged droughts have led to a sharp decline in water availability, drying rivers, reservoirs and wells, which in turn has devastated agricultural production—once a cornerstone of Syria’s economy. Wildfires have destroyed vast swathes of farmland and forests, further accelerating desertification and eroding the livelihoods of rural communities. Meanwhile, sandstorms, fueled by land degradation and climate shifts, have added to the suffering, making everyday life even more precarious for millions.

While the entire country is grappling with environmental stress, the predicament is perhaps most dire in Syria’s northeast. This region’s harsh, desert-like conditions make it acutely susceptible to the effects of climate change, which cast long shadows over local agriculture and water resources. 

Recent scorching heat waves in the region, with temperatures soaring 8-10 degrees Celsius beyond the norm, engender increased evaporation, which worsens water scarcity. Key crops such as wheat, cotton and maize, fundamental to Syria’s agriculture, bear the brunt. Precipitation has dwindled, becoming less predictable and more erratic, exacerbating water scarcity and hindering farming planning.

Long-term projections suggest northeastern Syria will endure a drought every three years, with dire implications for food security. With parched fields and diminished crop yields, the economic backbone of the agriculture-reliant region is coming under increasing strain, with no signs of these pressures easing. 

Read more: Fuel crisis and weak subsidies threaten Syria’s northeastern bread basket 

Agriculture interventions: Progress with risks

In the face of these environmental and war-related challenges, interventions by aid actors working to revitalize northeastern Syria’s strategic agricultural sector have predominantly concentrated on restoring irrigation networks ravaged by the prolonged conflict. They drilled new wells, rebuilt irrigation systems and helped farmers start over by providing essential equipment, fuel, agricultural inputs and cash. These initiatives have yielded tangible successes in restoring the sector and boosting its production, especially in Raqqa province.

Nonetheless, this success is fleeting. These emergency measures coax farmers back toward water-intensive farming techniques, something the ecosystem can scarcely endure due to a precipitous decline in the water levels of the Euphrates River. This pump-centric approach also further endangers the region’s groundwater resources. 

Northeastern Syria witnessed a steady decline in groundwater levels well before the war started in 2011, as inadequate public water supply systems and minimal regulatory scrutiny contributed to an upsurge in unauthorized well drilling. These trends have only persisted—and increased—since the onset of the war. 

Given that northeastern Syria’s agricultural sector predominantly uses freshwater resources, there is an opportunity for humanitarian organizations to adapt their assistance to farmers to mitigate water consumption. This adaptation could mean providing drought- and salt-resistant seeds, particularly targeting rainfed agriculture. Additionally, NGOs could extend support in the form of small-scale loans to establish greenhouses. This dual-purpose intervention would not only enhance farmers’ livelihoods, but also help reduce water consumption and enhance water accessibility. 

Read more: Seeds of Syria: How a birthplace of agriculture lost troves of its native crops, and why we should all worry

Renewable Energy: A double-edged sword

The conflict and a lack of maintenance have reduced northeastern Syria’s electricity generation capacity by over 70 percent. As a result, the energy supply for crucial public services is sporadic, or even non-existent. In response, some stabilization initiatives have pivoted toward embracing renewable energy to power essential functions, from illuminating schools and hospitals to fueling water distribution and irrigation systems. 

The transition to renewable energy is often hailed as a step in the right direction, a means to combat pollution and rein in carbon emissions. However, if left unregulated, this transition can have adverse consequences. This situation is particularly evident in northeastern Syria, where the solar energy market is experiencing uncontrolled growth. 

Solar energy systems, like any technology, have a limited lifespan, which, due to lenient regulations and a lack of rigorous quality checks, can be as short as a couple of years. Combined with an absence of infrastructure and proper programs for the disposal of worn-out solar components, increased reliance on solar energy presents a looming toxic waste crisis with potential long-term health and environmental implications. 

This lack of strict regulations and enforcement mechanisms can also lead to excessive water consumption. After the initial capital investment, solar power essentially becomes cost-free. With readily available, unregulated energy, farmers are inclined to extract water for extended periods, increasing the risks of waste and overexploitation.

To address these pressing issues, stringent regulations must be established and strictly enforced to oversee the installation and maintenance of solar energy systems. This will ensure that these systems meet quality standards and operate efficiently over an extended lifespan. Additionally, the establishment of recycling programs for worn-out solar components is imperative to ward off an impending toxic waste crisis. To tackle excessive water use, local authorities and NGOs should work closely with farmers to implement responsible use practices and encourage efficient water management techniques.

Water scarcity: A Crisis in Hasakah

Water scarcity is a pressing issue throughout northeastern Syria, but reaches critical levels in Hasakah city, owing to a combination of harsh climate conditions and conflict-related disruptions to the vital Alouk water station, which serves nearly 460,000 residents. As a result, many households are forced to purchase expensive water brought in by tanker trucks. 

To ease this burden, local authorities and NGOs have initiated efforts to provide free water deliveries to the population. However, these well-intentioned charitable actions, despite addressing immediate concerns, carry the risk of overexploiting groundwater and exacerbating the region’s reliance on non-replenishing aquifers. 

Read more: The cost of water: Hasakah women harassed, exploited by service providers

Additionally, these initiatives have caused water shortages in other areas, as the bulk water purchases made by these efforts are more attractive to tanker drivers, leading them to prioritize supplying Hasakah. Piped-network water in many localities in northeastern Syria is technically free, since local authorities in these areas have refrained from collecting water fees due to challenges in collection or insufficient revenues resulting from low tariff rates. While this approach may benefit impoverished local communities, it unintentionally promotes excessive water consumption, particularly in agriculture.

Enhanced regulations are imperative to combat overuse and ensure sustainable access to water. At the same time, investments in upgraded water infrastructure and maintenance are necessary to guarantee a stable and dependable water supply while optimizing the efficiency of the distribution network. NGOs and local authorities should further explore sustainable water management solutions, including rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment. Implementing these measures can help alleviate water scarcity and strengthen the resilience of communities, not just in Hasakah but across the broader northeast.

The path forward

As the Syrian conflict shows no sign of abating, looming climate crises threaten to cast an even darker shadow over the nation. Each year, Syria’s climate grows hotter and drier, compounding the country’s vulnerabilities. The urgency of this crisis must serve as a clarion call for all stakeholders to prioritize efforts that halt preventable environmental harm. 

From promoting water-efficient farming practices to regulating the unchecked expansion of solar energy infrastructure, there are actionable steps that can and must be implemented now to avert the worst outcomes.

Climate action in conflict zones is not a luxury—it is a necessity, one that cannot wait for the elusive promise of stability. The consequences of inaction reach far beyond the environment itself. Climate-induced disasters intensify humanitarian suffering, destabilize and uproot communities and perpetuate cycles of conflict. Ignoring these challenges today risks leaving Syria with an irreversible environmental legacy—one that will shatter any hope for recovery.