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Environment & Sustainability Guide · Syria

Environment & Sustainability Guide in Syria

Air quality, green spaces, and environmental policies

Syria faces severe environmental challenges due to prolonged conflict, including water scarcity, deforestation, and air pollution from dust storms and industrial remnants. Climate change exacerbates droughts and extreme weather, with limited data availability due to instability. Sustainability efforts are nascent, hampered by reconstruction priorities, though international aid supports some renewable and water initiatives.

Air Quality Index

0510

Poor

4.5/10(AQI: N/A)

Stable trend

Air quality data is limited due to conflict, with stable trends per database. Dust storms and urban pollution from Damascus contribute to PM levels, lacking comprehensive monitoring. No major government initiatives reported recently.

Water Quality

0510

Poor

3.5/10

Water quality is poor, with widespread contamination from untreated sewage and agricultural runoff. Only 62% have access to safely managed drinking water. Conflict has damaged infrastructure, increasing health risks from pollution.

62% access to safely managed services; high contamination risks.

Recycling System

Recycling infrastructure is virtually non-existent due to war damage and priorities on basic services. No national programs or data available; informal waste collection dominates in urban areas.

Recycling Rate: —%

Green Spaces

Forest coverage has declined sharply from conflict and overexploitation. Protected areas exist but enforcement is weak; key sites include protected forests in the north, covering minimal land.

Forest Coverage: 2.7%

National Parks: 0

Several nature reserves declared pre-conflict, but many degraded.

Environmental Policies

Environmental laws exist from pre-conflict era but enforcement is negligible due to civil war. Syria ratified Paris Agreement in 2017; limited renewable targets amid energy crisis.

Key Policies:

•National Environmental Action Plan 2005 (inactive)
•Paris Agreement ratification 2017

Renewable Energy: No specific targets; solar projects via international aid.

Natural Disaster Risk

HIGH

Syria is prone to earthquakes, floods, droughts, and dust storms. 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake killed over 5,900 in Syria. Government preparedness limited by conflict.

earthquakesfloodsdroughtsdust storms

Climate Change Impacts: Temperatures rose 1.2°C from 1991-2020 baselines, with droughts increasing 20% in frequency since 2000. Precipitation declined 15-20% in recent decades, worsening water scarcity. Extreme heat waves more frequent, e.g., 2021 drought displaced thousands. Located on seismic Dead Sea Fault.

Sustainability Initiatives

Renewable Energy

UNDP supports off-grid solar projects for 50,000+ households since 2020, addressing energy shortages amid 90% reliance on imports.

Water Management

FAO rehabilitation of irrigation systems post-2021 drought, benefiting 100,000 farmers with improved water efficiency.

Reforestation

Limited NGO efforts to restore forests, planting 500,000 trees since 2018 despite security challenges.

Wildlife & Nature

Syrian Brown BearCritically Endangered

Asiatic CheetahCritically Endangered

Persian Fallow DeerVulnerable

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