The protracted conflict has contributed to large-scale environmental degradation and the deterioration of Yemen’s natural resources due to:

• Destructive military activity, including attacks on oil infrastructure, zoning and cordoning of agricultural areas and coastal fisheries, UXOs, and the planting of mines;
• Challenges in public management due to strained resources and capacities;
• Unsustainable practices driven by the economic and humanitarian urgencies, as many people resort to adverse means such as deforestation or well-drilling to fulfil basic needs.

Climate change is compounding these problems, impacting Yemen’s natural resources, contributing to increased displacement, and deepening the humanitarian crisis. In recent years, Yemen has repeatedly experienced drought, floods and storms, pest infestations, and sudden disease outbreaks. In 2023, natural disasters displaced close to 320,000 people from their homes. Surface and groundwater are becoming increasingly scarce, leading Yemen into a severe water crisis, ranking among the lowest per capita water availability globally.

Leaving a vital imprint on Yemen’s economy and livelihoods, the deterioration of Yemen’s natural resources and ecosystems contributes to conflicts and mistrust at different levels. Even before the escalation of the war, the competition for access to water and land had already led to local conflicts. In 2023, about 1,200 people reported environmentally driven tensions in their districts. Addressing climate-related security risks in the context of Yemen’s conflict is now a priority. Failing to tackle these risks may spoil political peace processes and undermine the prospects for durable peace.

Topographical variance separates Yemen into five main geographic zones: the hot, humid coastal plain (Tihama) in the west; the dry, sparsely populated eastern desert plain; the eastern highlands with seasonal water streams; the western highlands, which show higher rainfall than the other regions; and the islands located in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, which are rich in marine species. Overall, high temperatures, low precipitation and seasonal monsoon rains make the country prone to drought and flooding.

Yemen is among the most climate vulnerable countries globally, facing a myriad of natural hazards including cyclones and floods, rising sea levels, and heatwaves. Mean temperatures in Yemen are projected to rise by 1.2 – 3.3 °C compared to pre-industrial levels by 2060. Rainfall is expected to occur more erratically and in more frequent heavy rainfall events, increasing the risks of floods and storms. Coastal areas will be affected by rising sea levels.

A faltering political transition following the 2011 uprising, a takeover of the capital Sana’a by the Houthi movement in 2014, and a Saudi-led military intervention starting in 2015, have progressively led to a complex conflict. Peace efforts have intermittently halted violence for brief periods and to a limited scale but have not brought about a settlement.

In the context of multifaceted political, humanitarian, and environmental crises, Yemen needs innovative entry points for mediation. Our environmental peacemaking approach aims to contribute to peace through the lens of addressing the environmental root causes of conflict. By identifying common grounds and solutions to environmental risks, the project supports relationship building and social cohesion, paving the way for addressing other complex political factors.

The project builds upon the findings of a consultation with almost 16,000 individuals, conducted by the European Institute of Peace in 2020-2021, which found that the environment is an urgent priority of the local population in the search for peace and reconciliation.  The EPfR was developed to identify and understand how and why environmental issues are driving conflict in Yemen and explore how they can be addressed to support sustainable peace. The project consults actors from the local to the national levels, channelling concerns to the relevant actors and promoting their consideration in both governance priorities and peace efforts.

By consulting Yemeni citizens, civil society, traditional leaders, and local decision-makers, the project supports the integration of local-level perspectives into peace efforts across tracks and governance decisions. Many Yemenis depend on natural resources and a healthy environment, but are struggling to access safe and affordable water, food, and other essential goods. The project’s consultations actively reached out to women (over 40% of participants), youth, displaced persons, persons with disabilities, farmers and fishers, and other groups that are heavily impacted by Yemen’s conflict and environmental crisis yet remain underrepresented in political and peace discussions.

To avoid environmental security risks further exacerbating the conflict in Yemen, peace efforts from the local to the international level need to include environmental considerations. The project supports this by systematically identifying environmental conflict and security risks, convening manifold actors in dialogues to discuss these risks, and exploring ways to collaborate for enhanced resilience.

Local-level dialogue

Through consultations and community dialogues, we reached to Yemenis across 13 governorates. We convened local decision-makers, traditional leaders, civil society, and subject experts to identify key concerns, priorities, and opportunities to tackle environmental risks as part of conflict resolution and prevention. Through these dialogue spaces, Yemenis can identify locally led peacemaking solutions to address these risks and enhance resilience.

Policy engagement

We engage policy- and decision-makers at the national level on environmental issues to enhance environmental governance, support cross-institutional coordination, and foster dialogue and cooperation. Read more about our first meetings here.

Analysis

We conduct analyses both to inform our work and based on our work – the EPfR project aims to produce findings and lessons that can be considered by actors involved in peace efforts in Yemen and integrated in future climate security programming worldwide. To do so, we produce research and analysis on aspects of environmental security and governance in Yemen and extract actionable insights from our work. Explore our analysis and outreach activities here.