This factsheet provides an overview of the five different eLearning modules on the environmental dimensions of disaster prevention, preparedness and response, hosted by the Environmental Emergencies Learning Centre. The courses aim to minimize the human and environmental harm caused by environmental emergencies through strengthened skills and knowledge. The five… Read More
This factsheet provides an overview of the Environmental Emergencies Centre (EEC), an online tool designed to strengthen the capacities of national responders and humanitarians to respond to environmental dimensions of emergencies. The UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit (JEU) acts as the custodian of the site. The EEC was established… Read More
This study, conducted in 2020, sheds light on a variety of potentials and pitfalls of remote sensing for disaster risk analyses in fragile contexts. This topic gains importance in light of the need to formulate more systemic and better-integrated approaches to risk-informed development. Evidence-based policy recommendations encourage organizational learning and… Read More
This summary summarizes the session from the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week on Asbestos and Humanitarian response, from February 2020. Core questions posed in the session included (1) what the immediate actions, which can be taken to reduce the asbestos risks in post-disaster operations, and (2) What the long-term… Read More
Prevention, preparedness and response are key pillars of the UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents which will celebrate its 20th anniversary of entry into force on 19 April 2020. The Convention was negotiated in response to the 1986 Sandoz chemical spill, which put Switzerland… Read More
This article by Wim Zwijnenburg (PAX for Peace) reflects on the growing interest and visibility of the environment during the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week 2020 (HNPW) in Geneva and stresses the need to address environmental issues in humanitarian response. Photo: Oil slick in the… Read More
Download the two page annex here. Integrating… Read More
Dorian made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane in The Bahamas on 1 September 2019, leaving a trail of devastation behind. A United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team, embedding environmental expertise, was dispatched to support the government-led response. The full environmental mission report is accessible here. This… Read More
Guidance document by the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit to assist the disseminating of information amongst the international community and identifying the exact type of international assistance required. Read More
This document details the objectives of the Working Group on Remote Environmental Analysis for Humanitarian Action, which has been set up as part of the Joint Initiative project. Read More
This scoping mission led by USAID in collaboration with the Joint Initiative aims to evaluate existing humanitarian aid delivery systems in order to identify pragmatic, cost-effective approaches to reducing packaging waste during humanitarian interventions. Countries which request humanitarian assistance often have insufficient waste management systems to handle the… Read More
This factsheet describes the emergency response services undertaken by the UN Environment/OCHA Joint Unit following assistance requests by Member States. Read More