People living in countries affected by conflict are among the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Combinations of conflict, food insecurity and accelerating climate change are triggering displacement, fueling tensions and creating humanitarian needs on a massive scale. We are seeing this up close in many of the places where we work – in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and far beyond.

On the other hand, in delivering life-saving activities, humanitarian organizations like the ICRC produce greenhouse gases, generate (sometimes hazardous) waste and consume natural resources, such as water, which add to climate and environmental problems.
In 2021, the ICRC and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies co-led a broad consultative process across the humanitarian sector to develop the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations.
In line with the charter, the ICRC has adopted a first set of three organizational targets:
•By 2025, climate and environmental risks will have been factored into all programmes.
•By 2025, awareness, understanding and implementation of international humanitarian law protecting the environment will have been strengthened among states and parties to conflict through the ICRC's bilateral and multilateral engagement, publications and legal tools.
•By 2030, the ICRC's greenhouse gas emissions will have been reduced by at least 50% compared with 2018 levels.