The 2023 Environment and Emergencies Forum (EEF) brought together global stakeholders in environmental emergency response and humanitarian aid to address pressing challenges and explore opportunities for integration.
The 2023 Environment and Emergencies Forum (EEF) brought together global stakeholders in environmental emergency response and humanitarian aid to address pressing challenges and explore opportunities for integration. Hosted by DG ECHO, the biennial event, held on March 22-23, 2023, in Brussels, centered on four key themes: readiness for response, response and recovery, environment in humanitarian action and environment in protracted conflict settings.
With 170 participants from 54 countries representing over 80 organisations, the Forum focused on four key themes: readiness for response, response and recovery, environment in humanitarian action, and environment in protracted conflict settings.
The Forum highlighted the importance of collaboration between environmental and humanitarian actors to achieve sustainable solutions. Participants stressed the need to shift focus from short-term fixes to long-term goals for environmental degradation and humanitarian crises. Engaging with communities, especially those most affected by environmental crises, was recognised as crucial for building resilience and addressing root causes effectively.
After a long break because of the pandemic, it was so nice to get together as a community. We discussed new realities and challenges in a world where the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation can no longer be ignored.
The Forum facilitated the formation of new partnerships and connections, strengthening the network of the UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit. It also addressed urgent waste management improvements for more effective emergency response.
Emphasis was placed on the interconnection between conflict and climate change, underscoring the need to consider both factors in humanitarian actions.
A key learning from the Forum was the importance of mainstreaming environmental considerations into humanitarian action to address long-term consequences and building resilience.
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