STRATEGIES FOR CLIMATE ADAPTATION IN NORTHEAST SYRIA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Northeast Syria is among the region’s most vulnerable areas to climate change. This vulnerability arises not only from exposure to climate change and the intensification of extreme weather events but also from the way adaptation policies and projects have been designed using a top-down technocratic approach. As a result, much of the adaptation has led to negative consequences for certain groups that are often the most vulnerable; those who directly depend on nature for their livelihoods. This outcome, known as maladaptation, has been particularly evident. This paper conducts a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature since 2014, the year maladaptation first gained significant attention in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report. The aim is to assess the current state of research related to climate change adaptation in Northeast Syria, particularly concerning the Euphrates River and the Khabur River, which are important components of the region’s biodiversity. The review aims to identify research gaps and discuss key lessons learned. The keywords used in the review include maladaptation, barriers to adaptation, ecosystem-based adaptation, and gender, as these concepts are all somewhat interconnected. The review highlights significant research gaps across all topics, as well as a geographical imbalance in the distribution of studies within the region. Given the prevalence of maladaptation in Northeast Syria, it is crucial for further research to focus on this issue to gather insights and mitigate maladaptation in future climate change adaptation projects, as the region directly relies on natural resources.