About
About the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations
The climate and environmental crises are among the greatest challenges facing humanity today. Their impacts are felt globally, but it is the poorest and most marginalized communities—those with the least capacity to adapt—who are disproportionately affected. These crises intersect with armed conflict, displacement, weak governance, poverty, and structural inequities, compounding vulnerabilities and threatening lives and livelihoods.
The Climate and Environment Charter was launched in May 2021 and provides a framework for action, setting out commitments to guide the humanitarian sector in addressing these crises. It sends a clear signal that humanitarian organizations have a key role to play in addressing these crises. It underscores our responsibility to help communities adapt to the realities of a changing climate and environment while improving the sustainability of our own operations.
The Charter stems from the recognition that the humanitarian sector must act collectively andthat the sector has a responsibility to both respond to the humanitarian consequences of these crises and reduce the environmental impact of our actions. Like the Code of Conduct, the Charter represents the sector’s commitment to do its part, work together, ensure that our actions reduce the impacts of the crises, and convince others to do the same.
Since its launch, the Charter has become a rallying point for organizations committed to tackling the climate and environmental crises in a collective and coordinated way.
A Collaborative Foundation
The Charter was born out of a consultative and inclusive process. The development of the Charter was led by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and guided by an Advisory Committee of 19 people, including representatives of local, national and international NGOs, UN agencies and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, as well as academics, researchers and experts in the humanitarian, development, climate and environmental fields. This committee represents and is linked to a number of important humanitarian networks, including the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), the Alliance for Empowering Partnership, InterAction, the Environment and Humanitarian Action Network, the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee sub-working group on climate change.
This collaborative effort included input from over 150 organizations and more than 200 individuals through consultations, bilaterial discussions, virtual meetings, two open feedback sessions, and an online question. The result is a document that reflects the diverse perspectives and expertise of the humanitarian community, ensuring its relevance and applicability across contexts.
You can download the feedback document here.
The Charter Secretariat
In December 2023, at COP28 in Dubai, the establishment of the Secretariat for the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations was announced. The Secretariat launched in May 2024 and is dedicated to supporting organizations in implementing the Charter’s commitments through its four core functions:
- Connecting Resources and Expertise
- Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration
- Engagement and Communication
- Advocacy and Promotion
The Secretariat acts as a catalyst for action, enabling organizations to make tangible progress toward the Charter’s goals. Read more about the Secretariat’s functions, governance structure, and workplan on the Secretariat Page.
Join us!
The Climate and Environment Charter represents a collective commitment to addressing the climate and environmental crises as humanitarian imperatives. By working together, we can strengthen our efforts, empower affected communities, and ensure that humanitarian action contributes to a more sustainable and equitable future.
To stay up-to-date on developments in the sector, opportunities for collaboration, emerging tools and resources for action, as well as upcoming events, you can sign up for the Charter Secretariat newsletter or see upcoming events.