Attachments
1 Introduction
Iraq’s climate emergency has become one of the most pressing threats to human security and social stability in the region. Rising temperatures, shrinking rivers and recurring droughts are reshaping both the physical environment and the political landscape. For communities already weakened by decades of conflict and economic fragility, these environmental stressors are no longer peripheral, but they define daily survival and intensify existing vulnerabilities.
This report presents a concise synthesis of key findings and insights from a broader, in-depth research study. It examines how climate change, migration and social cohesion intersect across four climate-affected governorates: Nineveh, Diyala, Kirkuk and Al-Sulaymaniyah. Using a multi-layered methodology that combines desk reviews, secondary quantitative analysis and field-based insights from key informant interviews (KII) and focus group discussions (FGD), the underlying research captures the lived realities of local communities behind policy debates and provides evidence-based recommendations.
The findings underscore that climate change in Iraq is not merely an environmental or technical challenge but is fundamentally a question of governance, trust and the social contract. Environmental pressures such as drought and desertification act as “threat multipliers,” exacerbating socio-economic fragility and influencing migration patterns, but they do not operate in isolation. How these challenges are managed – whether through inclusive governance or exclusionary practices – can either erode institutions and fuel tensions or strengthen cooperation and peace (Mamshai, 2025).
Hence, this research seeks to understand the interlinkages between climate change, migration and social cohesion in Iraq. It analyses how increasing environmental stress has intensified socio-economic vulnerabilities and displacement and how governance systems, traditional authorities and existing power relations shape the effects of climate-induced migration on community relations and stability. The findings are intended to inform policies and programmes aimed at enhancing community resilience, supporting fair and inclusive resource management, and integrating peacebuilding considerations into climate adaptation efforts. With a strong focus on gender, governance and locally driven solutions, the research adopts a comprehensive approach to addressing the combined challenges of environmental stress and migration in Iraq’s fragile political context.