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Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit OCHA Emergency Services Branch Geneva, Switzerland

Environment and Humanitarian Action Briefing 12 June 2013

Environment House, Geneva, Switzerland

Opening ; Niels Scott Chief, Humanitarian Coordination Support Section

• 1. Setting the scene: Environment and Humanitarian Action by OCHA

Wendy Cue, JEU 14:00-14:30

• 2. ICRC Sustainable Development Framework: a whole of organisation approach

Alain 14:30-15.30

• 3. Integration of Environment in Humanitarian Action, training

Blanche Renaudin, Groupe URD, 15:30-16:00 Coffee break/refreshment , 16.00-16.15

• 4. Environmental Marker, tool to integrate environment in humanitarian action

Altan Butt, UNEP Sudan 16:15-16:30 (Sudan)

• 5. Learning from the Green Recovery and Reconstruction: Training Toolkit for

Humanitarian Aid Anita Van Breda, WWF 16:30 to 17:00 (USA)

• 6. Q and A 17:00-17:30

Agenda

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Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit OCHA Emergency Services Branch Geneva, Switzerland

Wendy Cue

Chief of Section

Environmental Emergencies

At Environmental and Humanitarian Crossroads

Environmental Emergencies

“An environmental emergency is defined as a sudden

• nset disaster or accident resulting from natural,

technological or human-induced factors, or a combination of these, that cause or threaten to cause severe environmental damage as well as harm to human health and/or livelihoods.”

UNEP Governing Council, 13 November 2002

Technical expertise

Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit Prepared Response

Humanitarian coordination

+ =

RESPONSE

Priorities

PREPAREDNESS ENVIRONMENT IN HUMANITARIAN ACTION

Environment in Humanitarian Action

Integration of environmental considerations across the whole humanitarian programmatic cycle

Country-specific support Update of guidance and input

• f key environmental elements

Raise awareness Establish an Environmental Network

Improving existing humanitarian tools

Review of existing tools and documents (2011/2013)

• CAP guidelines 2013 revised
• Integration of environment into UNDAC training
• Review of 2012 and 2013 CAPs (including MYR 2013)

recommendations provided to the HCT (through UNEP/OCHA)

• MIRA tools/operational guidance reviewed and comments

provided to CASS for inclusion

South Sudan 2012

Joint JEU/ UNHCR Scoping Mission Juba, South Sudan

Joint mission with UNHCR to evaluate the impacts of establishing refugee camps on the surrounding environment

• Rapid environmental assessment

mission

• Identified negative impacts

associated with refugee operations, and the effect on livelihoods of the host and wider community

• Environmental degradation and

causes of conflict

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, Uganda (November/December 2012)

Conduct field assessments to support an evidence- based approach

The JEU deployed (through the SDC) two environmental experts to work with UNHCR and IUCN to undertake an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).

Initials findings: challenges between host and refugee population, risk of poaching in the adjacent National Katonga Game Reserve, the use of wood for fuel, cash (charcoal) and construction materials and uncertainty regarding ground water depletion

Available in English, 3-hour module Building Capacity of Humanitarian Actors EEC Training module: “Environment in Humanitarian Action” Environment in Humanitarian Action is a module developed to better integrate environmental considerations into humanitarian action.

Development of a dedicated environmental advisory surge capacity

Creating Surge Capacity

In March 2013, the new profile of Environmental Field Advisor was added to the Stand-By Partnership Programme.

Way Forward….

• 1. UNEP and OCHA have agreed to jointly raise resources to

implement the agreed strategy.

• 2. An (loose) environmental reference group, coordinated by

the JEU, has been established and agreed upon critical elements in humanitarian response.

• 3. Develop country-specific environmental action plans with

focus on large emergencies where environment is a critical factor in vulnerability and conflict. The UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit (JEU) has taken on the role of advancing environment in humanitarian action since end 2011

• Advocacy
• Awareness Raising
• Global Partnerships

Outcomes and follow up on Advisory Group on Environmental Emergencies Forum

Biennial Global Forum May 15-17, 2013, Geneva

More than100 policy makers, environmental experts and disaster managers from across the world

To support regionally and nationally led capacity development initiatives to improve preparedness for environmental emergencies, enhance response mechanisms by providing resources through OCHA and UNEP. Outcomes of Advisory Group on Environmental Emergencies Forum

AGEE Forum agreed to embed environmental emergencies in the

comprehensive DRM Frameworks

The environmental emergencies centre (EEC) was launched during the Forum. The EEC (eecentre.org) is an interactive online knowledge hub aimed at strengthening preparedness and response to environmental emergencies. Establish an Environment Reference group

Prepare, build capacity & raise awareness Tools, guidelines & training Networks

Environmental Emergencies Centre www.eecentre.org

Online preparedness tool designed to strengthen the capacity of vulnerable countries to environmental emergencies

Workshops and trainings EEC eLearning modules

Training

The JEU develops introductory and advanced trainings on a variety of environmental emergency preparedness and response topics

eLearning modules available at www.eecentre.org

joint www.unocha.org/unep