3-year Update Report – Statement of Commitment on Climate by Humanitarian Organisations

11/12/2023

Since 2020, 13 organisations from the humanitarian sector who are part of the Humanitarian Environment Network, including Groupe URD, have signed the Statement of Commitment on Climate by Humanitarian Organisations. They have thereby committed themselves to reducing the environmental footprint and adapting to climate change. Three years on, what progress have they made? This update report reviews the commitments made and highlights the challenges and opportunities faced by NGOs in achieving their objectives.

The update shows that each signatory organisation has begun to implement measures and that the progress made varies between organisations, essentially based on the resources they have. Those with the most resources are able to go faster in developing strategies and tools, and implementing measures. There is nevertheless a spirit of collaboration, organisations working within networks to take advantage of collective learning and the sharing of experiences; certain challenges are not specific to organisations, but rather are common to the sector and its operational methods. This said, part of the ecological transition process is specific to each organisation and therefore requires internal resources.

Main progress made:

All the signatories have begun to measure their carbon footprint. They will all soon have an idea of the scale of the reductions they need to make so that these can be planned and monitored.
Some have also developed strategies and action plans to reduce their environmental footprint. In parallel, they have all begun to take measures, beginning with those that are the most obvious and the most affordable.
A sector-wide dynamic: the rest of the sector is also taking steps to reduce their footprint and organisations receive more and more institutional support. Since 2020, there have been 3 new signatories !
The importance of networks and the sharing of experiences: the signatories are involved in networks to take advantage of collective learning and the sharing of experiences; certain challenges are not specific to organisations, but rather are common to the sector and its operational methods.

Challenges to overcome:

Access to human and financial resources: even though the organisations collaborate, part of the ecological transition process is specific to each organisation and therefore requires internal resources.
Access to solutions: NGOs still lack the tools (consolidated emissions factor database and methodological guides) and the solutions (on local markets, to reduce indirect emissions, etc.) to reduce their footprint.
Monitoring methods: this report underlines the challenges of monitoring the impact of reduction measures in big organisations.

The organisations are still aiming to reduce their carbon footprint by 30% by 2025, and by 50% by 2030. These ambitious objectives will guide our future actions and will reinforce our commitment to environmental sustainability.

There is an urgent need to adapt our operational methods and help communities to be more resilient, to prepare for and adapt to this new reality, and preserve and conserve their environment.

So join us! Sign the Statement and make this commitment!

If you have any questions, contact us at secretariat@environnementhumanitaire.org

The update report provides detailed analysis of the methodology, the results per commitment and future prospects:

Click here for the full report.

Click here for the key messages.