COP28 shines light on Syria's climate funding dilemma

Heightened vulnerability to climate change

The Syrian conflict, stretching over 12 agonising years, has inflicted brutal violence, economic turmoil, and widespread disease and suffering upon the population.

Concurrently, recent years have witnessed a surge in extreme weather events in Syria — scorching temperatures, devastating wildfires, relentless droughts, and ceaseless sandstorms.

These escalating calamities, both in frequency and ferocity, have heightened Syria's vulnerability to the harsh impacts of climate change.

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 climate crisis. This ranking also underscores the nation's acute vulnerability and limited resilience against the challenges posed by climate change.

However, these dire circumstances must not eclipse the accountability of the Syrian regime in reaching this critical juncture—an imperative aspect in forging a way forward. Even predating the eruption of conflict, the regime's policies directly exacerbated various environmental challenges: waste mismanagement, water scarcity, soil degradation, and air pollution.

The situation further deteriorated following the peaceful uprising in 2011. A November report by former International Criminal Court judge Howard Morrison echoed these concerns, squarely placing responsibility on the al-Assad regime for extensive environmental devastation, exacerbating existing issues and introducing new ones.

Environmental impact of war

The relentless bombing campaigns orchestrated by the Syrian regime and its repeated use of chemical weapons throughout the prolonged civil war inflicted substantial environmental destruction.

The report sheds light on the aftermath: hazardous conflict rubble left in the wake of devastated cities, posing significant environmental and health risks both presently and during subsequent removal phases.

Furthermore, the report underscores al-Assad's targeting of the oil industry, resulting in destructive oil fires and spills that ravaged cultivated lands and triggered health crises, notably increased respiratory issues among affected populations.

It also delineates how al-Assad's manipulation of vital resources like water has precipitated a crisis in safe and clean water access, leading to various health ailments.

Simultaneously, the deliberate targeting of sanitation systems has polluted groundwater sources. Additionally, the ravages of war have rapidly diminished Syria's forests, heightening concerns about increased flooding risks and a stark decline in biodiversity.

Track record of diverting aid

However, extending climate finance to the entity responsible for Syria's urgent climate issues undermines accountability and risks yielding minimal impact.

The Syrian regime's track record of diverting and misusing aid reveals a troubling pattern where funds designated for humanitarian relief or development purposes are systematically manipulated.

Numerous instances point to aid being selectively directed to loyalist areas, manipulation of exchange rates for aid transfers, and frequent reports of compromised procurement procedures.

Furthermore, the regime's constraints on the operational freedom of international agencies impede independent needs assessment and monitoring, leaving these bodies heavily reliant on data provided by regime-affiliated entities.

Allocating climate financing to the Syrian government also entails significant risks due to the deep-seated structural corruption within state institutions.

Widespread corruption at various government levels raises alarming concerns regarding mismanagement and potential fund diversion from climate initiatives. This entrenched corruption not only undermines the effectiveness of climate financing but also detracts from essential reforms needed to address Syria's governance challenges.

Careful consideration needed

If the heightened focus on conflict and the climate crisis at this year's COP summit results in additional funding for Syria, entities overseeing this support must not approach climate change solely from a technical standpoint.

Like any funding directed to regime-held areas, climate-related financing must carefully consider the context to mitigate corruption risks, ensuring that funds genuinely enhance climate action without exacerbating Syria's existing problems.

Given the technical and political challenges of coordinating with the Syrian regime, which has persistently resisted principled cooperation, climate funding to Syria should target societal and civil society structures at the local level. These entities possess the skills and genuine interest in improving conditions in their areas.

Working with the Syrian regime directly, despite these realities, risks allowing al-Assad to weaponise yet another important cause to ensure its political survival.

Engaging directly with the Syrian regime, despite these stark realities, risks enabling al-Assad to exploit yet another critical cause to secure political survival.

However, this time, the repercussions will not solely be borne by Syrians.