Environment in Humanitarian Action: Why It Matters?

Mar 22, 2016 | Consultative Group for Emergency Preparedness and Response
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When you think of humanitarian action, do you ever reflect on the environment? You surely see humanitarian relief as saving lives, alleviating suffering, providing aid and maintaining dignity. But is there also room for considering the environment? Or should it simply be left for development actors to worry about? So what can be done? The good news is that there are a number of organizations that see this lack of environmental stewardship, and are working to make a difference. Together these various organizations and actors can exchange information, establish databases and collaborate on initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental impacts of disasters and conflicts. The Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit (JEU), embedded in OCHA’s Emergency Services Branch in Geneva, is a unique mechanism within the United Nations that mobilizes and coordinates emergency assistance for environmental incidents and humanitarian crises with significant environmental impact, such as the Syria Crisis. In January 2016, UNHCR and the JEU jointly organized a coordination workshop aiming to identify, assess and mitigate environmental consequences of this crisis. In Syria, UNHCR with the support of IKEA has set-up a solar energy farm that will be connected to the national electricity grid, ensuring that the current demand for energy is addressed through a long-term sustainable development solution. The JEU also acts as a strong advocate of preparedness actions and mainstreaming environment into humanitarian action. At its biennial Environmental Emergencies Forum in 2015, the JEU, together with the Green Cross International, awarded environmental heroes with the Green Star Awards. In the “Environment and Humanitarian Action” category the award was given to Women’s Refugee Commission for putting cooking fuel on the humanitarian agenda through its Safe Access to Fuel and Energy Initiative (SAFE). This video provides a good overview of the challenges related to the provision of access to clean energy, heating and cooking solutions in humanitarian settings. The Moving Energy Initiative is yet another example of a project that aims to change the way that energy needed for heating/cooling, cooking, lighting and electrification is delivered to displaced people.  According to their recent report “Heat, Light and Power for Refugees: Saving Lives, Reducing Costs”, in 2014 household energy use among forcibly displaced people amounted to around 3.5 million tons of oil, an equivalent of an estimated cost of $2.1 billion.

Being such a critical element to the efficiency of humanitarian action, it is essential to consider environment from the very onset of a humanitarian response. Environmental issues such as damage to industrial sites and proper disaster waste managementare especially relevant in the first few weeks of a sudden-onset disaster. United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team members are trained on the use of the Flash Environmental Assessment Tool (FEAT). This flagship JEU tool is used by first responders to identify risks caused by industry and infrastructure to humans, life support functions and ecosystems and to recognize acute issues for which additional technical expertise needs to be mobilized.

Good luck, and do share your thoughts and advice on the EEC Discussion Forum!