Is humanitarian aid climate friendly?

Climate change, a pressing reality

Climate change isn't just a looming threat – it's a pressing reality with immediate consequences for millions around the globe. Over the past four decades, we’ve seen a significant rise in climate-related disasters, including intense storms, wildfires, droughts, flooding, and heatwaves. These environmental risks, growing in both frequency and complexity, are triggering severe ripple effects across all sectors of society, leading to a significant increase in humanitarian crises.  

In the last two decades alone, more than 80% of disasters have been linked to the climate, with severe consequences for the humanitarian needs of millions of people worldwide. Meanwhile, studies show that the current decade could see a 50% increase in the number of people needing international aid because of the effects of climate change, and the number could double by 2050 if drastic action is not taken.

Countries with the highest vulnerability to climate change are often those with the weakest economies and layered geopolitical and social complexities. In certain regions, particularly the Horn of Africa, we find ourselves responding to acute malnutrition after droughts, only to deploy teams to aid flooding survivors months later. The 2024 Global Report on Internal Displacements (GRID) validates this observation, emphasizing both an increasing frequency of displacement and the magnitude of its impact.  

So where should we direct our resources?  

At Medair, we firmly believe that every life matters, and our humanitarian objective to save lives remains critically important. Additionally, we are exploring new ways to enhance preparedness and anticipation in target communities, aiming to contribute to greater resilience, connectedness, and self-determination.

The environmental impact of aid work

The environmental impact of aid work is a complex issue that affects every part of what we do. Whether it's health-related activities leading to improper waste management or water and sanitation projects causing groundwater over-pumping and contamination, our actions can sometimes have unintended consequences for the environment.

Today, our biggest challenge is air travel. We need to get the right experts to the right place at the right time to ensure timely, quality, and accountable programs, but this often comes at the cost of a large carbon footprint.  

This issue is compounded with our reliance on external suppliers. These suppliers provide us with everything from food and water to tents and medical supplies, but they might not always share our commitment to environmental sustainability.

Finally, we have budget constraints. Humanitarian organizations often operate under tight budgets, and every dollar spent needs to have the maximum impact in terms of aiding those in need. While greener alternatives for operations and supplies often exist, they can sometimes be more expensive than their less environmentally friendly counterparts.  

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Our journey towards climate sensitive aid

In the realm of humanitarian aid, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to climate sensitive programming. Each context - with its unique geographical and political limitations, cultural and social factors, infrastructure and technological constraints, security, and accessibility issues - presents a unique challenge that requires us to adapt, learn from and innovate.

In our journey towards climate-friendly aid, the decision to sign the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations in 2021 marked a significant milestone for us. But this commitment extends far beyond mere signatures; it's also ingrained in our environmental policy, which guides every aspect of our operations.

Below are some examples of our latest initiatives:

• Engineering climate-friendly shelters in Turkiye

In response to the devastating earthquakes in Turkiye on February 6, 2023, Medair swiftly deployed a team to address the urgent life-saving needs. With 90% of some cities destroyed and an overwhelming demand for tents, while recognizing the short lifespan and poor quality of standard emergency tents, we sought a more sustainable shelter solution with the help of a local supplier in Gaziantep.

In collaboration with local partners, engineers and communities, we designed prefabricated, panelised houses made from locally sourced timber and insulation. These structures were customizable, repairable, and have a lifespan of at least five years, as opposed to just six months for standard tents. This innovative approach has not only provided durable shelter solutions but has empowered the displaced population to take ownership and adapt the houses to their needs. Our teams successfully installed around 82 of these transitional shelters, demonstrating a sustainable and locally integrated humanitarian response.

• Recycling Plumpy’Nut plastic waste

Child malnutrition is a pressing issue in many of the countries we serve, particularly for children under five. One of the most effective ways of addressing this is by using Plumpy'Nut, a nutrient-rich peanut paste that has proven highly effective in treating malnutrition. This paste is distributed both in facilities and for at-home use, with regular check-ups to monitor progress.

However, Plumpy’Nut comes in single-use plastic packaging that is difficult to recycle and often ends up in the general waste system. To tackle the issue of plastic waste and ensure recipients remain in the treatment program, we implemented a recycling system, requiring recipients to return the packets as proof of use before receiving their next dose. This not only ensures program continuity, but also addresses environmental concerns by facilitating the recycling of these widely used packets.

• Mitigating cyclones and other disasters in Madagascar

In Madagascar, where communities face the constant threat of cyclones, our early warning system stands as a beacon of hope. Comprising of a network of timely alerts and proactive support mechanisms, this innovation helps locals to prepare for and mitigate the impact of cyclones and other natural disasters. By fostering community engagement and providing timely support, we not only minimize the impact of natural disasters but also promote resilience and sustainable development.

Towards a climate-friendly future

In our journey towards a climate-friendly future, every step counts. As we navigate the complex landscape of humanitarian aid, our mission is clear: to minimize our environmental impact while maximizing our impact on humanity.

“There's far greater economy in acting proactively before a crisis hits. This includes both anticipation – and in using data to predict potential crises, as well as helping communities better prepare for when disaster does inevitably strike,” says Damon Elsworth, Medair’s Global Senior Emergency Response Officer.

As Damon illustrates, the real impact – both from an environmental and humanitarian perspective – goes beyond sustainably reacting to crises sustainably. It involves investing in anticipation and resilience from both environmental and humanitarian angles.

Research underscores this urgency, revealing that countries with limited to moderate coverage of early warning systems suffer nearly six times higher disaster-related mortality ratios than those with substantial to comprehensive coverage.  

“The value proposition of resilience really only emerges over time – sometimes 5, 10 even 20 years – but it’s critical that we lay the groundwork for a future where crises are less severe and communities are better equipped to respond autonomously. At Medair, we’re in the perfect position to do this, because we’ve got unique access in the regions we serve, and we’re determined to create meaningful impact.” says Damon

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This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organization.  

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