Reducing environmental impact in humanitarian response – Sphere Thematic Sheet

Sphere recently published a new resource that offers hands-on guidance to practitioners looking to consider environmental issues in their humanitarian programmes. It is the first in a series of thematic sheets that will discuss some of the core issues in humanitarian response.

[caption id="attachment_2417" align="aligncenter" width="633"] Photo: Kate Holt/IRIN[/caption]

To understand what a thematic sheet is and discuss environmental issues for humanitarians more broadly, Sphere talked to the author, Amanda George. A humanitarian professional with extensive experience in environmental and sustainability issues and climate change adaptation, she was directly involved in drafting the Sphere Handbook as a thematic expert, engaged through the Swedish Red Cross.

She is currently an international Environment in Humanitarian Action consultant, working closely with the UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit.

To read the full interview with Amanda George, click here.

To download the Sphere Environment Thematic Sheet, choose from the four languages below:

English - Thematic Sheet Environment;

French - Thematic Sheet Environment;

Arabic - Thematic Sheet Environment;

Spanish - Thematic Sheet Environment. Read More

WWF – Green Guide to Disaster Risk Reduction

The WWF Environment & Disaster Management (EMD) program's Green Guide to Disaster Risk Reduction module 9 can be used for disaster risk reduction specialists to increase their awareness of appropriate and useful integration of environmental considerations into risk assessment and risk reduction. Read More

Moving Energy Initiative (MEI) – Infrastructure Management Contracts: Improving Energy Asset Management in Displacement Settings

This paper highlights a number of options for managing electricity infrastructure in refugee camps. It outlines the challenges, opportunities and operational implications associated with them using the Kalobeyei settlement in Kenya as a case study. Read More

Moving Energy Initiative (MEI) – Adopting a Market-based Approach to Boost Energy Access in Displaced Contexts

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Moving Energy Initiative (MEI) – Innovative Financing for Humanitarian Energy Interventions

This paper explores the increase in resources and funding needed to improve the access of displaced people to modern and sustainable energy services. Read More

UN Environment: Quick guides on how humanitarian action can minimize environmental impacts

The 'Quick guides' contain key guidance on environmental issues relevant to six sectors of Food Security and Agriculture Sector, Basic Needs Sector, Health Sector, Education Sector, Protection Sector and Livelihood Sector of humanitarian response to population displacement. They underscore the opportunities to minimize negative environmental impacts during humanitarian action. Read More

UNEP – Integrated Strategic Environmental Assessment (ISEA) Guidance Note

The UN Environment Guidance note on Integrated Strategic Environmental Assessments in Post-Crisis Countries provides information on how to integrate disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in sustainable reconstruction and development planning. It provides practical guidance on how to manage the process of assembling data. Read More

Asia Pacific – DWM guidelines

The Disaster Waste Management Guidelines for Asia Pacific, published by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, is developed to enhance preparedness for disasters by exchanging information, awareness and human resources during normal (non-hazard) times. The guidelines aims to provide a practical tool during a potential disaster as well as in a post-disaster recovery stage. Read More

UNDG – Natural Resource Management in Transition Settings

This guidance note aims to raise awareness and increase

understanding of the negative and positive roles that natural

resources can play in peace consolidation. It provides

practical guidance to assist in thinking through how

natural resource management principles and practices can

feed into transitional analysis and planning frameworks. Read More

UNDP – Guidance Note on Debris Management

The focus of the UNDP Guidance Note on debris management is to provide urgent post-crisis and post-disaster assistance. It offers practical advice to UNDP Country Offices on how to plan, design and implement short-term projects that effectively connects governments and communities in the process of assessment, clearance, recycling and management of debris. Read More

UNDP – Guidance Note on Municipal Solid Waste Management in Crisis and Post-Crisis Settings

The UNDP Guidance note forms part of a series of UNDP's signature products that aims to respond and support early recovery in immediate crisis and post-crisis contexts with practical advice and guidance to UNDP Country Offices. The objective is to provide guidance on how to plan, design and implement projects that offers immediate support for managing municipal solid waste. Read More

FAO – The guidance note Meeting Fuel and Energy Needs in Protracted Crises

The FAO guidance note presents the experiences and lessons learned which aims to support humanitarian actors in the field addressing energy access as part of food and nutrition security interventions in situations of protracted crisis. Read More