No Return to Normal: Climate Change and the Threat of a Global Humanitarian Crisis

Friday, December 10, 2021

Overview:

The climate crisis is a humanitarian crisis. It is not a distant problem for 2030 or 2050. It is unfolding right NOW on the humanitarian frontlines worldwide and threatening to grow in unprecedented proportions. Climate change is not just another global challenge; it is an existential crisis for tens of millions of people TODAY, threatening their lives and livelihoods and creating exponentially growing needs and compounded vulnerability in existing vulnerable and affected contexts and in new climate hotspots. In a world that is currently 1.2 degrees warmer, humanitarian actors are struggling to keep pace with the rising number of climate-related disasters and the dramatic rise in humanitarian needs. A 1.5-degree temperature increase would test the current humanitarian system to its limits, and worse, a rise of 2.7 degrees or above would lead to a runaway global humanitarian crisis, the sheer magnitude of which would seriously threaten the system’s collapse.

The growing urgency of the climate crisis requires a new level of integrated action in order to address growing and burgeoning humanitarian needs while helping communities prepare for, adapt to, and respond to the cascading impacts of climate extremes. Bold shifts in mindsets and approaches are needed, as a ‘return to normal’ is no longer realistic. Organized as a virtual session, the discussions at this panel will consider how the humanitarian system, its donors, and partners can be more effective in adapting and responding to the wide-ranging impacts of the climate crisis and its secondary and overlapping consequences. The panel will also identify concrete steps on the way forward in examining how to position humanitarian action more decidedly as part of adaptation efforts through strengthening the resilience of communities ahead of future shocks.

Following a brief presentation of the key messages of OCHA’s forthcoming report ‘No Return to Normal’, a panel discussion will follow. Guided by a session facilitator, panellists and participants are encouraged to draw from their professional and operational expertise to engage in an open and lively discussion. The session’s conclusions will help guide the co-organizers’ ongoing policy work and help inform and crystallize the recommendations and findings of OCHA’s forthcoming study.