The Syria I experienced as a tourist in 2004 bore little resemblance to its current state.
I had previously explored the ancient vestiges of Palmyra before its significant destruction by the Islamic State. In a district of Aleppo, which today would be almost unrecognisable, I once savoured a Guinness.
On another occasion, approximately an hour’s drive from the Iraqi frontier, I was graciously received into the dwelling of a craftsman who fashioned musical instruments. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that he is now among the countless individuals who have been displaced from a nation fractured by internal conflict.
While our interaction lasted merely a few hours, that afternoon remains etched in my memory as one of those profound “in retrospect” realizations.
My encounter with him occurred in a retail establishment showcasing both new and refurbished stringed instruments. I had indicated a particular piece, a fretless guitar known as an oud. Though my own proficiency was non-existent, I couldn’t resist the chance to demonstrate my rudimentary grasp of Middle Eastern musical knowledge to my companion.
Did you know that traditionally, this instrument is played with an eagle’s feather? So I was informed.
The artisan, evidently amused or perhaps impressed, extended an invitation for us to enter his premises. This invitation was extended with considerable pride in his enterprise and, quite evidently, in his young family, who resided in a modest apartment above his shop.
What ensued was an afternoon marked by the enjoyment of sweet apple tea, delectable pastries, and – a curious custom I encountered on multiple occasions in the Middle East – repeated offers of fragrant, emollient hand cream. Perhaps my skin appeared unusually dry…
Our conversation then shifted to his extended family, who cultivated wheat in a northern region. They were experiencing challenging circumstances and were contemplating relocation, divesting assets, and seeking urban employment. I offered sympathetic nods, lacking a comprehensive understanding of the broader context.
Through a well-ingrained sense of decorum, we made a concerted effort to sidestep discussions on sensitive political matters, transitioning to other subjects before we took our leave. The omnipresent visage of Bashar al-Assad adorned public spaces, projecting an image of unwavering national strength and stability. As visitors, it was not our prerogative to probe further.
Yet, on the periphery of our pleasantries, we had nonetheless detected faint premonitions of the ensuing turmoil. Foreshadowings of vanished livelihoods, of factionalism and the wielding of power amidst dwindling resources. There existed a palpable disparity between those who had and those who lacked. And my current imagination suggests that our acquaintance’s family was not among the affluent.
Two years subsequent to my visit, the commencement of a devastating five-year drought initiated a period of severe hardship for a vast segment of the population. Access to water became unevenly distributed, enriching some while depriving others. Many were compelled to abandon their residences, migrating to overburdened towns and cities. The repercussions constitute a tragedy that continues to unfold before our eyes.
Since that juncture, the discourse concerning whether global warming played a contributory role in this cascade of events has yielded no definitive consensus. Notwithstanding its intricate nature, the influence of climate change on this conflict cannot be readily disregarded.
Conversely, some express apprehension that an excessive emphasis on potential correlations might divert attention from the underlying political, social, and economic disequilibrium that underpins societal collapse. The attribution of excessive blame to climate change, others contend, risks further complicating an already intricate subject.
“The rationale for international engagement on climate change is sufficiently robust without recourse to questionable evidence of its influence on civil conflicts,” remarked Jan Selby, an international relations scholar, and Mike Hulme, an environmental scientist, in their 2015 publication in The Guardian.
Perhaps. However, even if examining the Syrian civil war through a climate change perspective introduces undue complexity, it is only when we adopt a political lens to view climate change that our future becomes discernible.
Mass migrations of individuals fleeing inhospitable environments; the inequitable allocation of wealth and resources; a breakdown of faith in democratic governance. These are precisely the elements that transmute abstract models of oceanic currents and precipitation into a global humanitarian crisis.
We in the media are frequently complicit in amplifying the reality of climate change through ubiquitous imagery and supplementary footage depicting sweltering heatwaves and palm trees buffeted by hurricanes. Such depictions are local and personal.
The very notion that our entire way of life could undergo transformation due to political upheaval is, for many of us, inconceivable. Consequently, we tend to perceive the crisis as a mere inconvenience, characterized by heatwaves and diminished property values.
Syria serves as a harbinger of a future we find difficult to grasp. Metaphorically speaking, even if not always explicitly articulated… though it is a reasonable assumption we will witness similar scenarios again.
A world ravaged by climate change will exert immense pressure on political and national boundaries, compelling us to devise novel strategies for addressing age-old political challenges on a global scale.
Whether the family our amiable instrument maker belonged to remains in Syria or not, I cannot ascertain. Their names have faded from my recollection, and after fifteen years, my memory of the town where I encountered them is rather indistinct.
However, when I struggle to personify the projections of the IPCC, it is that humble instrument shop that comes to mind, and how, despite the vast geographical separation, my own path remains connected to a small kitchen table situated in the heart of Syria.
This feature is part of ScienceAlert’s dedicated climate coverage, released in solidarity with the worldwide #ClimateStrike scheduled for September 20, 2019.
