Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks

Session title: IASC Climate Action Roadmap: seeking inputs

24 Apr 23 14:00-15:30 UTC+2 (Salle 2)

SessionAbstract

The science is clear: “climate change is already contributing to humanitarian crises”. The Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change Working Group II report on adaptation, impacts and vulnerability (2022) confirms the humanitarian impacts of climate change and concludes that, “Increasing weather and climate extreme events have exposed millions of people to acute food insecurity and reduced water security.”

Humanitarian organizations have a crucial role to play in supporting vulnerable communities affected by climate change. Through the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations, humanitarian organizations committed to being part of the solution: to help people adapt, to increase environmental sustainability and scale action to minimize the impacts of shocks including loss of lives and livelihoods. However, collective action and changes across the humanitarian system are also needed to ensure the humanitarian system properly addresses climate change.

The IASC is working to develop a road map to ensure a common approach to climate change. This session will seek to collect input on the road map and generate recommendations for needed changes and specific areas of action.

We need inputs from humanitarian practitioners working in different countries and sectors to help us to identify barriers and solutions where IASC collective action can help to enable climate action.

Outline

The session will consist of a presentation on the IASC draft climate change road map, which will be followed by informal round table discussions on how to: 1) scale preparedness and response to help people adapt, minimize and address losses and damages, and reduce vulnerability to future risks; 2) maximize environmental sustainability and rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions; 3) embrace the leadership of local actors and communities; 4) improve shared understanding of risks; 5) work collaboratively across the humanitarian sector and beyond to strengthen climate and environmental action; 6) use our influence to mobilize ambitious climate action and environmental protection; 7) increase climate finance and ensure it reaches the most vulnerable, including in humanitarian contexts. The outcome of the discussions will feed into the development of the climate change road map.

Speakers

Speakers will include many agency reps including

1. Zinta Zommers, OCHA

2. Kirsten Hagon, IFRC

3. NGO rep

4. UN agency rep

5. Climate expers