Every Humanitarian is an Environmentalist
Aug 19, 2016
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Erik Solheim
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More than 130 million people worldwide need humanitarian assistance to survive. Some are caught in conflict. Some are caught in disasters beyond human control. Others are caught in disasters humanity has made worse.
Humanitarians do much more than provide immediate relief. They help rebuild lives after disasters. They build resilience in communities. They create the foundations of long-lasting peace, stability and well-being. There are ways for everyone to help with these goals. This is why everyone can be a humanitarian. It is also why every humanitarian is an environmentalist. The environment is at the heart of everything. It is the foundation on which peace, stability and well-being are all developed. To care for the environment is to care for humanity. We know the impact that a changing climate and a damaged global environment is having on our lives. The evidence is already here. 335 weather-related disasters were recorded annually between 2005 and 2014. This was an increase of of 14% from the decade prior, and almost double the decade before that. It is clear we need humanitarians more than ever. The demand is immense. Providing relief services, building resilience, and fixing communities and societies broken by war and disaster, is incredibly challenging and important. In these crises, the bravest among us continue to be the heroes for those who need them most.