The Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations

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• Led by ICRC and IFRC.
• 374 signatories to this date, including 8 SEA National Societies. 12 Government supporters
• 45 organizations established targets (incl. ICRC, IFRC, and only 11 National Societies worldwide).
• Contains 7 commitments, examples of practical actions, targets, and relevant tools.

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Purpose of the Charter

• The Charter is guided by the objectives of the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework for DRR, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

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• The Charter’s goal: to steer collective action in response to the climate and environmental crises.

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• Its commitments should be implemented through organization-specific targets and action plans, informed by the need for urgent action and the individual capacities and mandates of organizations.

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Commitment 1:

Step up our response to growing humanitarian needs and help people adapt to the impacts of the climate and environmental crises

4 key elements to this commitment:

1. Stepping up our response to growing humanitarian needs;

2. Increasing our focus on CCA, DRR, and anticipatory action;

3. Considering and addressing changing climate and environmental risks in humanitarian work, including preparedness, relief, and recovery;

4. Supporting those most at risk.

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Commitment 1: (continue)

Examples of National Societies’ Targets:

• RC of Serbia: “Improve understanding of heatwaves and their consequences on individuals and communities in urban areas through raising awareness and behavioral change activities with a specific focus on the most vulnerable groups.”
• Bulgarian RC: “BRC will further operationalize climate considerations into humanitarian programming in its reviewed DM policy to be adopted by the end of 2021”.
• NZRC: By 2024, “Develop a programme plan for climate and environmental sustainability, including an initial scoping of what would be required for an external accreditation or review process suitable for humanitarian organisations”.

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Commitment 2:

Maximize the environmental sustainability of our work and rapidly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions

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1. Developing and implementing environmental policies

2. Systematically assessing, avoiding and mitigating the immediate and longer-term environmental impact of our programmes (Green Response)

3. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

4. Offsetting emissions

5. Managing Resources and Reducing Waste

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Commitment 2: (continue)

Examples of National Societies’ Targets:

• We will adopt an environmental and climate policy by 2024.
• Australian RC: “work towards reducing our consolidated greenhouse gas emissions (for scope 1 and 2 emissions) by 15% by 2025 based on our 2018/19 baseline. This represents a 20% reduction for our Humanitarian division and a 15% reduction for our Lifeblood division”
• We will systematically integrate the NEAT + (environmental assessment tool) and the IFRC Environmental quick guide in our preparedness and response mechanisms by 2024.
• Swedish RC: “We commit to compensating for the GHG emissions we cannot avoid by doing carbon offsetting in certified projects. We will also be transparent in how much CO2e we are emitting per year, and what the carbon offsetting costs.”
• RC of Serbia: “Increase energy efficiency in the RCS facilities: insulation, carpentry, solar panels, type of heating; heating elements”.

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Commitment 3:

Embrace the leadership of local actors and communities

• Local institutions, authorities, and communities have better access to decision-making over where and how finances are allocated, programmes are designed, and progress is monitored and achieved.
• Participation that is meaningful and inclusive: Engaging with structural barriers to participation and incorporating considerations of gender disparity and political, social, and economic marginalization.

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Commitment 3: (continue)

Examples of National Societies’ Targets:

• Canadian RC: “By 2024, CRC will have an Indigenous Advisory Network to ensure we are enabling community-based leaders and actors to support and guide the CRC in DRR and CCA strategies to foster local stewardship and traditional territory care”.
• NZRC: “Identify ways to strengthen existing partnerships with Māori organisations, especially in relation to sources of traditional knowledge”.

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Commitment 4:

Increase our capacity to understand climate and environmental risks and develop evidence-based solutions

• Meteorological data and local and indigenous knowledge about patterns of variability should be used to provide risk analyses that are comprehensive, reliable, and relevant.
• Importance of knowledge development and of bridging disparities in data access.

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Commitment 4: (continue)

Examples of National Societies’ Targets:

• Canadian RC: “Year by year, CRC will strengthen ties and collaboration with the RCRC Climate Center, while improving hazard data sharing/access across Movement partners, government, academia, and humanitarian partners.”
• By 2022, our data on climate risks in specific countries will be made available to the wider humanitarian sector.

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Commitment 5:

Work collaboratively across the humanitarian sector and beyond to strengthen climate and environmental action

Importance of collaboration, particularly between local and international actors. Ensuring that we complement one another, share information, and maximize the capacities of different organizations.

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Examples of National Society’s Target:

• NZRC: “Work in partnership with government and relevant authorities (including Tangata Whenua, civil society organisations and other partners) to strengthen domestic and international frameworks related to climate change”.

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Commitment 6:

Use our influence to mobilize urgent and more ambitious climate action and environmental protection

National Societies are uniquely placed to influence legal and policy frameworks to better channel resources and attention towards vulnerable and at-risk people.

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Examples of National Societies’ Targets:

• Swedish RC: “SRC will collaborate with governments and other humanitarian actors, nationally and internationally, to share learnings and to persuade them to take ambitious climate action, including the adoption or recognition of the charter, with the message that the climate crisis is a humanitarian crisis”.
• Bulgarian RC: “Maintain exchange with MoFA for commitments under the SDGs, and Paris Agreement, as well as for national positions in high-level summit events (e.g. COP).
• NZRC: “Develop, for Executive Leadership Team consideration, a range of humanitarian diplomacy options relating to climate and environmental sustainability”.

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Commitment 7:

Develop targets and measure our progress as we implement our commitments.

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We will translate our commitments into time-bound targets and action plans within a year, using relevant standards and guidance.

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Recap and recommendations for National Societies

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