Climate Change and Humanitarian Action Learning Stream

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) includes commitments regarding “Loss and Damage” (L&D) – the impacts of climate change to which those least responsible for climate change are not able to adapt. Action to address L&D under the UNFCCC aims to enable countries to recover and develop after a crisis and address slow-onset impact, but also to compensate people for what they have lost. The concept of L&D is rooted in the principles of climate justice: that those who have done the least to contribute to rising temperatures should not bear the costs associated with addressing it.

The session explored what Loss and Damage is and how it could support – and be supported by – existing humanitarian finance mechanisms. The session will explore the losses and damages experienced by individuals, communities, and governments and how adequate funding for loss and damage could reduce the impact of short-term, protracted, and slow onset crises.

Aims of the webinar:   

• Improve understanding of Loss and Damage and its relationship to climate finance, as well as the importance of this year’s COP27 to Loss and Damage and how it links to humanitarian action.
• Discuss why humanitarian organizations need to engage on the topic of Loss and Damage, among others, in the lead-up to COP27.
• Highlight the modalities and strategies for humanitarian NGOs to engage in the preparatory work for COP27 and beyond.

The Commitment #6 of the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organisations calls on organisations to use their influence to mobilise urgent and more ambitious climate action and environment protection. The Charter commits us to work together to foster ambitious action on climate change adaptation and mitigation and to ensure protection of those who are most vulnerable so that they are not left behind. The humanitarian sector is uniquely placed to influence legal and policy frameworks to better channel resources and attention towards vulnerable and at-risk people. We can leverage our presence, expertise, and insight to work with multilateral institutions, governments and other organisations to ensure that greater focus on the impacts of these crisis on communities and people we serve are taken into consideration at decision-making levels.

Over the last few years, we have seen a significant increase in awareness by the humanitarian community of the impacts of the climate crisis and humanitarian engagement in UNFCCC processes. Following COP26 last year, we saw a far greater presence of humanitarian actors, engaging and raising awareness of impacts of climate change on the most vulnerable. However, we as a humanitarian community need to further articulate what we see our collective role is in implementing solutions to the climate crisis.

The next UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCC) COP27 will take place in Sharm El-Sheikh in November this year. But how does COP27 relate to the work of humanitarian actors and how can they engage in the proceedings to make sure that the discussions take into account humanitarian needs?

This webinar aimed to:

• Raise awareness on the UNFCC process, the importance of this years’ COP27 and how it links to humanitarian action
• Discuss why humanitarian organisations need to engage to bring in humanitarian perspectives on the topic of Loss and Damage, among others, in the lead-up to COP27
• Highlight the modalities and strategies for humanitarian NGOs to engage in the preparatory work for COP27 and beyond

Commitment #4 of the Climate and Environment Charter encourages organisations to better understand climate and environmental risks to calibrate responses adequately. Meteorological data and local and indigenous knowledge about patterns of variability should be used to provide risk analyses that are comprehensive, reliable, and relevant. In many places where humanitarian organizations work, relevant data can be scarce or unreliable, and collaboration across the humanitarian sector and beyond to address existing and emergent data gaps is critical.

This webinar provided insights on:   

• Challenges, opportunities and ways forward for the humanitarian system on incorporating climate/environment risk into needs analysis, programme design and implementation
• Operational implications of using data supported evidence in policy and for decision-making and programming – early warning, early action, preparedness and effective response to limit displacement
• Access to data and data availability to local  and international actors to minimise the climate risks to most vulnerable populations

Commitment #3 of the Climate and Environment Charter aims to embrace the leadership of local actors and communities by learning from traditional and indigenous knowledge on mitigation and adaptation measures, including nature-based solutions. We need to support and empower local communities so they can be better prepared for the impacts of climate change and environmental risks. On 17  March, ICVA and PHAP, held a webinar on Embracing the leadership of local actors and communities in climate action.

This webinar provided insight on the following:

• How NGOs and local communities are working together to support local leadership in climate action.
• How we can ensure meaningful and inclusive participation and leadership of local actors and people we serve are part of the design, management, implementation and evaluation of programmes.
• What we can do to better promote local leadership in the light of climate change and how to improve our programmes accordingly.
• What we can learn from local, traditional, and indigenous knowledge which can be replicated in other contexts.

As humanitarian actors are working towards reducing their environmental impact, it’s important to understand what tools are being developed and what initiatives are under way that can serve as a model for other organisations. ICVA and PHAP on 3 February held a webinar on Practical Tools and Initiatives for reducing Environmental Impact in Humanitarian Action. The webinar focused on practical tools and initiatives undertaken by organisations to reduce their environmental impact in humanitarian action.

This webinar shared lessons learned and responses to some of the following questions:

• How can we incorporate more environment-friendly practices into our programming?
• What are some of the nature-based solutions/do no harm practices being used by organisations in their programming?
• What are the tools for NGOs to measure their environment impact?

In our previous webinar, we gave an overview of how organisations can develop and implement environmental policies and strategies in line with Commitment 2 of the Climate Charter, and looked at challenges and opportunities, including some of the donor requirements and standards being put in place.