Paper details
| Paper authors | Isabel Munoz Beaulieu, Robyn Mellett, Ryoa Chung, Lisa Eckenwiler, Lisa Schwartz, Matthew Hunt |
| In panel on | Reimagining Humanitarian Response in the Face of Compounding Global Risks |
| Paper presenter(s) will be presenting |
In-Person / |
Abstract
Climate change and environmental degradation are intensifying conflict and disasters, increasing humanitarian needs. This scoping review explores what is known about humanitarian organizations' responses and plans for climate change within their programming and operations, as captured in grey and academic literature. Following Arksey and O'Malley's five-step methodology, two reviewers searched six databases—EMBASE, SCOPUS, Medline, PAIS, Web of Science, and OVID Global Health, using "humanitarian" and "climate change" as keywords. Grey literature was identified through incognito Google searches and searches on ReliefWeb, Humanitarian Library, and ten sector-specific organizational websites. In total, 92 documents (37 academic and 55 grey literature sources) were included. We applied both deductive and inductive analysis. Data was first extracted using six predefined analytical questions and then synthesized to identify emerging themes. Six main themes were identified: (1) the emergence of climate change as a focus within the humanitarian agenda, (2) climate compatible approaches, (3) climate change in relation to the short-term life-saving orientation of humanitarian aid, (4) sectoral commitments to climate change, (5) resilience-building and (6) local collaboration. As presented in this review, organizations need to continue examining how to overcome challenges and integrate concerns for climate change in humanitarian operations and response.
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