Climate Change, Armed Conflict and Humanitarian Organizations: Defining Their Role, Greening Their Response

May 18, 2021 | Colin Walch
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Humanitarian actors play a critical role in responding to climate-related crises, armed conflict, or a combination of both. Their response comes with an environmental cost. Humanitarian staff air travel, for instance, represents a significant source of carbon emissions and humanitarian logistics remain heavily dependent on fossil fuels. As the demand for humanitarian response climbs and countries increase their commitments to curb climate change, a question arises: Can humanitarian organizations mitigate their environmental impact and remain effective in responding to the consequences of armed conflict and climate impacts?

It is possible—and urgent—for the sector to do so, but it requires significant changes to how humanitarian organizations operate. By being “as local as possible, as international as necessary” humanitarian action could reduce its environmental impact and put into practice the World Humanitarian Summit recommendation for more local humanitarian action. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted both the central role of local humanitarian action and the feasibility of reducing international travels for humanitarian staff.