Environment and Humanitarian Action
Introduction
The integration of environment into humanitarian programmes and operations is critical to ensure the effectiveness, sustainability and accountability of humanitarian operations. While the immediate priorities for humanitarian actors include saving lives, reducing human suffering, and jump-starting recovery, there is an increased understanding and awareness amongst the humanitarian community on the need to localize and contextualize humanitarian action for long-term resilience. In the spirit of the New Way Of Working and the Agenda for Humanity, the consideration and integration of the local environmental, geographical and overall site conditions are essential elements in achieving these goals.
Addressing environmental issues during the early phases of an emergency has multiple benefits and provides the potential to do the following:
- Address the underlying environmental issues that may have contributed to the crises or disaster in the first place as well as reduce the risk of reoccurrence
- Improve affected communities’ health and safety through reduction of air and water pollution (e.g. management of hazardous materials and solid wastes)
- Protect livelihoods by safeguarding the essential natural resources of those communities
- Protect people and the environment from future hazards through mitigation activities and preventative measures
Furthermore, proactively addressing environmental issues can slow or reverse trends that lead to deforestation, desertification, soil erosion and pollution, which significantly impact community resilience, biodiversity, food security and economic development.
For more information, please visit the Environment and Humanitarian Action (EHA) page.
Overview
EHA training | EHA Network |
---|---|
The 1.5 hour Environment in Humanitarian Action eLearning module provides humanitarian actors with information on how to effectively integrate environmental issues into humanitarian response and early recovery strategies. The course is available through the EEC Learning Centre. | The Environment and Humanitarian Action (EHA) Network is an informal network aiming to avoid, minimize, or mitigate environmental impacts of humanitarian action and to promote environmentally responsible humanitarian programming through collaboration and cooperation. It holds bi-monthly teleconferences and one annual face-to-face meeting. If you are interested to learn more or to join the network, please contact the UNEP/OCHA Environment Joint Unit. |
Must Read
For every child, every right: The Convention on the Rights of the Child at a crossroads
30 years of child rights: Historic gains and undeniable achievements, but little progress for the world’s poorest children - UNICEF Urgent action and a recommitment to child rights needed to address...
World + 40 more
Global Report on Food Crises 2019 [EN/AR]
WHY THIS REPORT? For several years the number of people who cannot meet their daily food needs without humanitarian assistance has been rising, primarily driven by two factors: persistent instability...
Environment & Humanitarian Action Network - Terms of Reference - Revised 30 October 2018
Strategic vision The quality, effectiveness and long-term outcomes of humanitarian action are improved by ensuring that lifesaving and life-sustaining actions are delivered in an environmentally...
JEU Content
Déclaration conjointe sur la protection des données et le respect de la vie privée dans le cadre de la riposte à la COVID-19
L’ONU, l’OIM, l’UIT, l’OCHA, le HCDH, le PNUD, le PNUE, l’UNESCO, le HCR, l’UNICEF, l’UNOPS, l’UPU, les Volontaires des Nations Unies, ONU-Femmes, le PAM et l’OMS sont favorables à l’adoption de la...
Joint Statement on Data Protection and Privacy in the COVID-19 Response
The United Nations, IOM, ITU, OCHA, OHCHR, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNOPS, UPU, UN Volunteers, UN Women, WFP and WHO support the adoption of the following joint statement, in line with the...
World + 1 more
Disaster Waste Management: How does the JEU support management of disaster waste?
Disasters caused by natural and human-induced hazards, or a combination of them, can generate large quantities of waste, including building debris, fallen trees, and hazardous waste. Disaster waste...
Manuals & Guidelines
IASC Product Catalogue, March 2021
ABOUT THE IASC Created by the United Nations General Assembly, through its resolution 46/182 in 1991, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee is the longest-standing and highest-level humanitarian...
CCAFS Plan of Work and Budget (POWB) 2021
1. Adjustments/changes to your theories of change (ToC) While no substantial changes have been made to the overall balance of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food...
Gender, Forests and Climate Change
As users of forest products and guardians of traditional knowledge, women have always been involved in forestry. Nevertheless, their access to forest resources and benefits and participation in...
Maps and Infographics
Environment and Humanitarian Action
Environment and Humanitarian Action: Increasing Effectiveness, Sustainability and Accountability (Version 1)
A STUDY UNDERTAKEN FOR THE JOINT UNEP/OCHA ENVIRONMENT UNIT Executive Summary Destruction of livelihoods and deforestation as a result of brick production for humanitarian operations in Darfur. Dried...
Environment and Humanitarian Action: Increasing Effectiveness, Sustainability and Accountability (Version 1)
A STUDY UNDERTAKEN FOR THE JOINT UNEP/OCHA ENVIRONMENT UNIT Executive Summary Destruction of livelihoods and deforestation as a result of brick production for humanitarian operations in Darfur. Dried...
CBRN (Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear)
Technical assistance in implementing the international conventions and protocols related to terrorism - Report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.15/2021/5)
Commission on Crime Preventionand Criminal JusticeThirtieth session Vienna, 17–21 May 2021 Item 6 (c) of the provisional agenda *Integration and coordination of efforts by theUnited Nations Office on...
ECHO Factsheet - Health (Last updated 12/01/2021)
What is it? Health is a core sector of humanitarian assistance, but also a reliable measurement of its impact. The European Commission aims to provide high-quality humanitarian health assistance in...
EU budget for recovery: €2 billion to reinforce rescEU direct crisis response tools
The Commission proposes today to give the European Union the tools to react more quickly when a serious cross-border emergency such as the coronavirus strikes and affects EU countries at the same...
Latest Updates
World | Temperature Anomalies in March 2021 - DG ECHO Daily Map | 20/04/2021
Globally, March 2021 was about 0.2°C warmer than the 1991-2020 average, but cooler than each March from 2015 to 2020. During this month, temperatures substantially colder than the average reference...
How Climate Science Can Help Conflict Prevention
With climate change’s impact on peace and security set to grow in the years to come, Crisis Group has stepped up its analysis of the links between climate and conflict, helping shape climate policy...
Beyond the pandemic: Building back better from crises in Asia and the Pacific
Strengthening social protection, trade, and environmental protection are key to building back better in the Asia-Pacific region, says UN report News Number: G/15/2021 Broadening social protection,...
Jobs
Training
Disasters
Resources
This page is maintained by the UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit (JEU)
Useful Links
- EHA Connect
- Environmental Emergencies Centre
- The Joint Initiative – the Coordination of Assessments for Environment in Humanitarian Action
Contact
UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit (JEU), Response Support Branch, OCHA Geneva, ochaunep@un.org