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| | = The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid - Introduction = | | = The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid - Introduction = |
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| | Most refugee and internal displacement camps are in remote locations, so humanitarian agencies consume large amounts of fuel on the transport of staff, equipment and goods such as food and water. Operations tend to rely on on-site electricity generation to power reception centres, clinics, schools, food storage, water-pumping and street lighting. | | Most refugee and internal displacement camps are in remote locations, so humanitarian agencies consume large amounts of fuel on the transport of staff, equipment and goods such as food and water. Operations tend to rely on on-site electricity generation to power reception centres, clinics, schools, food storage, water-pumping and street lighting. |
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| − | Despite the essential role of energy in humanitarian action, and the UN´s stated commitment to carbon neutrality by 2020, to date there is no concerted effort to move away from fossil fuels. The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid, a new report by Chatham House for the [[The Moving Energy Initiative|Moving Energy Initiative]] (MEI), offers the first ever assessment of energy use by humanitarian organizations.<ref name="Owen Grafham and Glada Lah (December 2018): ">Owen Grafham and Glada Lah (December 2018): "The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid". Research Paper MEI Moving Energy Initiative. https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/publications/research/2018-12-10-Costs-Humanitarian-Aid2.pdf</ref> | + | Despite the essential role of energy in humanitarian action, and the UN´s stated commitment to carbon neutrality by 2020, to date there is no concerted effort to move away from fossil fuels. The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid, a new report by Chatham House for the [[The Moving Energy Initiative|Moving Energy Initiative]] (MEI), offers the first ever assessment of energy use by humanitarian organizations.<ref name="Owen Grafham and Glada Lah (December 2018):">Owen Grafham and Glada Lah (December 2018): "The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid". Research Paper MEI Moving Energy Initiative. https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/publications/research/2018-12-10-Costs-Humanitarian-Aid2.pdf</ref> |
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| | #There is little transparency over energy use and spending in the humanitarian sector, as few agencies effectively collect and report on energy use. | | #There is little transparency over energy use and spending in the humanitarian sector, as few agencies effectively collect and report on energy use. |
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| − | *Due to the absence of reliable data from the majority of humanitarian agencies with regard to energy costs or potential savings, estimates will be highly flawed. Nonetheless, this research estimates that around 5% of humanitarian agencies global expenditure is on diesel, petrol, and associated costs (not including flights). indicating that around $1.2 billion have been spent on polluting fuel in 2017. | + | *Due to the absence of reliable data from the majority of humanitarian agencies with regard to energy costs or potential savings, estimates will be highly flawed. Nonetheless, this research estimates that around 5% of humanitarian agencies global expenditure is on diesel, petrol, and associated costs (not including flights), indicating that around $1.2 billion have been spent on polluting fuel in 2017. |
| | *The paper examines cases and pilots with currently available and affordable technologies which are helping individual agencies to create savings and reduce environmental impact. Based on the results of these studies, the humanitarian aid sector could save at least 10% of fuel costs on ground transport, 37% through behaviour change and more efficient technologies, and 60% on generation; this could produce an operational saving of $517 million/year for the humanitarian sector (~5% of UNHCR's funding gap for 2017). | | *The paper examines cases and pilots with currently available and affordable technologies which are helping individual agencies to create savings and reduce environmental impact. Based on the results of these studies, the humanitarian aid sector could save at least 10% of fuel costs on ground transport, 37% through behaviour change and more efficient technologies, and 60% on generation; this could produce an operational saving of $517 million/year for the humanitarian sector (~5% of UNHCR's funding gap for 2017). |
| | *In addition to the financial gains, adopting energy strategies, which promote sustainable energy in countries of operation, would also help humanitarian agencies building positive relations with the host-country governments and societies. <ref name="Owen Grafham and Glada Lahn Department Manager and Senior Research Fellow, The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid, Chatham House Published on Dec 10, 2018. https://mei.chathamhouse.org/costs-fuelling-humanitarian-aid">Owen Grafham and Glada Lahn Department Manager and Senior Research Fellow, The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid, Chatham House Published on Dec 10, 2018. https://mei.chathamhouse.org/costs-fuelling-humanitarian-aid</ref> | | *In addition to the financial gains, adopting energy strategies, which promote sustainable energy in countries of operation, would also help humanitarian agencies building positive relations with the host-country governments and societies. <ref name="Owen Grafham and Glada Lahn Department Manager and Senior Research Fellow, The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid, Chatham House Published on Dec 10, 2018. https://mei.chathamhouse.org/costs-fuelling-humanitarian-aid">Owen Grafham and Glada Lahn Department Manager and Senior Research Fellow, The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid, Chatham House Published on Dec 10, 2018. https://mei.chathamhouse.org/costs-fuelling-humanitarian-aid</ref> |
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| | *Investigate the potential for switching to cleaner fuels. | | *Investigate the potential for switching to cleaner fuels. |
| | *Consider setting incentive and disincentive schemes at headquarters that encourage good practice across the agencies | | *Consider setting incentive and disincentive schemes at headquarters that encourage good practice across the agencies |
| − | *Make energy a priority at headquarters and work with field office staff to integrate a culture of efficiency.<ref name="Owen Grafham and Glada Lah (December 2018): ">Owen Grafham and Glada Lah (December 2018): "The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid". Research Paper MEI Moving Energy Initiative. https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/publications/research/2018-12-10-Costs-Humanitarian-Aid2.pdf</ref> | + | *Make energy a priority at headquarters and work with field office staff to integrate a culture of efficiency.<ref name="Owen Grafham and Glada Lah (December 2018):">Owen Grafham and Glada Lah (December 2018): "The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid". Research Paper MEI Moving Energy Initiative. https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/publications/research/2018-12-10-Costs-Humanitarian-Aid2.pdf</ref> |
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| | #Investigate what is actually being done by which agencies to reduce fuel costs and emissions in the country of operation. | | #Investigate what is actually being done by which agencies to reduce fuel costs and emissions in the country of operation. |
| | #Offer support to projects that unlock system change, and that enable models that can be adapted for replication. | | #Offer support to projects that unlock system change, and that enable models that can be adapted for replication. |
| − | #Consider contributing to a multi-country fund to de-risk the larger investments to transform large displacement operation.<ref name="Owen Grafham and Glada Lah (December 2018): ">Owen Grafham and Glada Lah (December 2018): "The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid". Research Paper MEI Moving Energy Initiative. https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/publications/research/2018-12-10-Costs-Humanitarian-Aid2.pdf</ref> | + | #Consider contributing to a multi-country fund to de-risk the larger investments to transform large displacement operation.<ref name="Owen Grafham and Glada Lah (December 2018):">Owen Grafham and Glada Lah (December 2018): "The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid". Research Paper MEI Moving Energy Initiative. https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/publications/research/2018-12-10-Costs-Humanitarian-Aid2.pdf</ref> |
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| | #Where possible, include sustainable energy as a priority area in humanitarian response plans (HRPs) and encourage aid in energy projects that will leave a positive legacy in-country. | | #Where possible, include sustainable energy as a priority area in humanitarian response plans (HRPs) and encourage aid in energy projects that will leave a positive legacy in-country. |
| | #In cases of prolonged displacement/humanitarian presence, consider enabling infrastructure investments that will reduce energy and water demand in camps and harness local market expertise. | | #In cases of prolonged displacement/humanitarian presence, consider enabling infrastructure investments that will reduce energy and water demand in camps and harness local market expertise. |
| − | #Consider partnerships with humanitarian agencies operating in remote locations to improve energy access for rural areas.<ref name="Owen Grafham and Glada Lah (December 2018): ">Owen Grafham and Glada Lah (December 2018): "The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid". Research Paper MEI Moving Energy Initiative. https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/publications/research/2018-12-10-Costs-Humanitarian-Aid2.pdf</ref> | + | #Consider partnerships with humanitarian agencies operating in remote locations to improve energy access for rural areas.<ref name="Owen Grafham and Glada Lah (December 2018):">Owen Grafham and Glada Lah (December 2018): "The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid". Research Paper MEI Moving Energy Initiative. https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/publications/research/2018-12-10-Costs-Humanitarian-Aid2.pdf</ref> |
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| | *[[The Moving Energy Initiative|The Moving Energy Initiative]] | | *[[The Moving Energy Initiative|The Moving Energy Initiative]] |
| | *[[A Global Plan of Action - Background, Visions and Outcomes|Global Plan of Action]] | | *[[A Global Plan of Action - Background, Visions and Outcomes|Global Plan of Action]] |
| − | *More articles and documents on energy in [[:Category:Humanitarian Settings|humanitarian settings]], available on energypedia | + | *More articles and documents on energy in [[:Category:Humanitarian Energy|humanitarian settings]], available on energypedia |
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| | [[Category:Burkina_Faso]] | | [[Category:Burkina_Faso]] |
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| | [[Category:Kenya]] | | [[Category:Kenya]] |
| | [[Category:Financing_and_Funding]] | | [[Category:Financing_and_Funding]] |
| − | [[Category:Humanitarian_Settings]] | + | [[Category:Humanitarian_Energy]] |
As humanitarian crises become more protracted and aid budgets face unprecedented scrutiny, agencies could save millions by switching from diesel and oil fuels to cleaner energy sources.
Most refugee and internal displacement camps are in remote locations, so humanitarian agencies consume large amounts of fuel on the transport of staff, equipment and goods such as food and water. Operations tend to rely on on-site electricity generation to power reception centres, clinics, schools, food storage, water-pumping and street lighting.
Despite the essential role of energy in humanitarian action, and the UN´s stated commitment to carbon neutrality by 2020, to date there is no concerted effort to move away from fossil fuels. The Costs of Fuelling Humanitarian Aid, a new report by Chatham House for the Moving Energy Initiative (MEI), offers the first ever assessment of energy use by humanitarian organizations.[1]
The report is based on a survey of 21 organizations operating in the humanitarian sector in Burkina Faso, Kenya and Jordan, complemented by interviews with key staff involved in setting energy policy. The following problems have been found:
As part of their commitment to ‘do no harm’, humanitarian agencies should commit to reducing their emissions footprint in host countries and set targets for phasing out the use of diesel for electricity generation.
Furthermore, they should tell donors how important the transition to sustainable energy and efficiency is for agencies.
