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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

Humanitarian aid donors’ declaration on climate and environment

Women with children walking in a field
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Climate change is already affecting the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (cyclones, heatwaves, droughts, floods, etc.), leading to degradation of ecosystems, disruption to food production and water supplies, damage to infrastructure and human establishments, morbidity and mortality.

In the last 2 decades, more than 80% of disasters have been linked to the climate.  These extreme events have multiple severe consequences for the humanitarian needs of millions of people worldwide.

They condemn certain very vulnerable countries and communities that have already suffered shocks and occasional or chronic climate risks, as well as having underlying social and environmental problems, to constant and prolonged states of crisis, where emergencies are the norm: epidemics, food insecurity, malnutrition and forced displacements.

In this context, the resources available to the humanitarian sector to address the situation remain limited, and the humanitarian system’s ability to respond to these growing needs is under stress.

Moreover, efforts to respond to the humanitarian needs of populations can also have negative effects on the environment, and on the affected populations themselves (sanitation, waste management, consumption of energy and natural resources, etc.).

Faced with this emergency, a growing number of humanitarian organisations have decided to act as illustrated by the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations, initiated by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the Statement of Commitment on Climate by Humanitarian Organisations

Governments and donors have a key role to play in supporting this momentum and bringing other organizations on board, helping facilitate the creation of an environment more conducive to a humanitarian system that prevents, prepares, anticipates and responds to climate and environmental risks and impacts.

They also support organisations as early as possible in establishing the basis required for the linkage between humanitarian aid and development while minimizing environmental damage.

In this context, we will strive to:

This list of means and tools is not exhaustive. Donors can choose their methods, in order to respond to the goals while taking into account the capacities of their humanitarian systems, including national NGOs.

Signatories

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • European Union
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden

Downloads

7 MARCH 2022
Humanitarian aid donors’ declaration on climate and environment
English
(334.36 KB - PDF)
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15 MARCH 2024
Humanitarian aid donors’ declaration on climate and environment: Second reporting under the Declaration – 2024 Report
English
(2.47 MB - PDF)
Download
17 MARCH 2023
Annual progress report of the signatories of the donor declaration on climate and environment
English
(1.49 MB - PDF)
Download