The climate crisis has brought decarbonisation and emissions reduction to the forefront of global humanitarian and development agendas, urging a shift toward doing more with less. This creates an opportunity to align aid and development efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While programs and policies promoting greener humanitarian responses are emerging, more coordinated action is needed to meet these ambitions effectively, ensuring that life-saving interventions also contribute to long term environmentally sustainable solutions.

Currently, electricity generation in humanitarian operations relies heavily on fossil fuels, contributing significantly to carbon emissions. For example, five major UN agencies and the ICRC operate over 11,000 generators, spending $108 million annually on fuel and emitting 194,000 tons of CO2. With the falling costs of solar energy, energy efficiency measures, and innovative models like Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and leasing mechanisms, all present viable pathways for decarbonising humanitarian energy supplies. Implementing these solutions can reduce carbon footprints, enhance energy reliability and achieve significant cost savings for humanitarian operations.

This session brings together humanitarian actors, donors, governments, and the private sector to explore opportunities and best practices for greening energy supplies. Key themes include:

• Leveraging energy data collection and sharing to enhance energy solutions planning.

• Innovative financing for scaling clean energy interventions.

• Progress on service-based procurement models to promote energy efficiency and sustainability especially in longer–term Operation and Maintenance schemes

• Identifying and fostering cross-sector collaboration opportunities.

The goal is to raise awareness of actionable steps to decarbonise humanitarian energy and build partnerships to drive this transition.

Speakers (TBC): Senior staff members from:

· German Federal Foreign Office (TBC)

· UNHCR (TBC)

· The Global Platform for Action on Sustainable Energy in Displacement Settings

· Climate Action Accelerator

· WFP (TBC)

· UNEP (TBC)

Agenda (TBC):

· 0:30: Welcome and Opening Panel/Presentation

· 0:45: Breakout Discussions on key themes

· 0:15: Reporting out and Session Close

Guiding Documents:

· Estimating the use of Diesel Generators in Displacement Settings (UNITAR, 2021)

· Standard Clauses for PPA and Leasing Agreements for Clean Energy Provision in Humanitarian Settings (GIZ, UNITAR/GPA and Becker Buttner Held, 2020)

· Feasibility for a Global Guarantee Mechanism in Humanitarian Energy Contracts (Energy MRC, 2020)