Episode 55: Insights from Iraq: Climate-informed mediation and peacebuilding

 In Iraq, climate stress is colliding with fragile governance and long-standing social fault lines. Rising heat, shrinking rainfall and worsening water scarcity are reshaping daily life and, without careful stewardship, can deepen tensions between communities and authorities. Yet when climate-related security risks are reframed as shared challenges rather than sources of blame, they can help facilitate dialogue and cooperation. In this episode, we speak with Nike Löble and Peshtiwan Al Dawoudi from the Berghof Foundation about their work strengthening Iraqi capacities to respond to climate risks across five districts. From the Al Zubair Social Pact bridging divides between displaced persons and host communities, to water-sharing agreements in Kalar, we explore what makes climate-focused dialogues effective in contexts marked by deep-seated grievances and mistrust. We also discuss how to measure impact through outcome harvesting and translate evaluation findings into actionable recommendations for policymakers, practitioners and donors. The project is a part of the Weathering Risk Peace Pillar. More information can be found here.Further resources:Toolkit on climate-focused mediation and dialogueEvaluation synthesisBridging divides between IDPs and host communities in Iraq through dialogues on climate change (impact story)Addressing environmental and water challenges unites divided villages in north eastern Kurdistan Iraq (impact story)Bridging divides and tackling water scarcity: Community dialogue as climate action in Iraq (impact story)Climate security challenges in Iraq: Entry points for local-level dialogue (report)© adelphi global, all rights reservedadelphi global (https://adelphi-global.de/en) is an economically and politically independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting sustainability, enhancing environmental protection, improving education, expanding development cooperation, and strengthening international collaborations. Our commitment is reflected in targeted projects, in-depth analyses, and informative educational events, through which we strive for a just and sustainable world.Editing by Paulus Müller-Hahl (Lichtbilder)