DRC has high ambitions regarding carbon accounting and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions produced by the organization. The 2021 Climate and Environmental Performance Report sets the baseline and starts the process towards reducing the carbon footprint around all of DRCs work.
DRC Burkina Faso
Greening DRC
DRCs carbon accounting commitments
Inspired by the global commitments, DRC aims to reduce its own greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and minimize any negative environmental impacts associated with our conduct and operations. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and minimizing harm to the environment contributes to global climate action ambitions and protecting the natural resource-based livelihoods, health and security of displaced populations and host communities.
DRC is committed to changing its existing way of operating to reduce emissions and working toward the global commitment to limit global warming to below 1.5 degrees. This is done in an ambitious, transparent, and accountable fashion that over time will be implemented across all operations.
DRC aims to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by a minimum of 50% in 2030 compared to 2019 levels. As a result, up to 20 country operations have started elaborating their carbon accounting baselines and specific reduction action plans to be implemented.
Global Climate Crisis
The Paris Agreement affirms a global aim of strengthening the response to the threats of climate change.
It does so by striving to keep the global temperature rise this century well below 2.0 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
In October 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C, finding that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.
Mitigation within DRCs work
Mitigation refers to the reduction of the rate of climate change via the management of its causal factors, i.e. the emission of greenhouse gases from fossil fuel combustion, agriculture, land use changes, cement production, etc. (UNFCCC).
UNEP defines mitigation as using new technologies and renewable energy, making older equipment more energy efficient, or changing management practices or consumer behavior.
Reducing DRC’s Carbon Footprint
Reducing DRC’s Environmental Footprint
Sustainable Supply chains
Sustainable Supply chains are expected to be the biggest contributors to the DRC carbon and environmental footprint. A greener procurement policy, the development of which was initiated mid-year 2020, will allow for DRC to use its purchasing power to choose environmentally friendly goods, services and works.
Sustainable transportation and Logistics Policy
Sustainable transportation and Logistics Policy is an essential feature of DRC’s work, which naturally contributes to emissions.
DRC will look at the following elements, among others: alternative transportation modes, reducing flights, promote alternatives to travel including virtual tools, and carbon offsetting mechanisms.
Responsible Office conduct
Responsible Office conduct and in-house operations comprises a range of activities that contributes to DRC carbon and environmental footprint. Several actions that could potentially affect the environment are identified: energy management, enhancement of recycling practices and ways to limit waste, improved water management, reduction of ICT related emissions.
Transparent climate and environment reporting
Transparent climate and environment reporting will give an overview of DRC’s footprint. This exercise has been started and will take place throughout 2021 and gradually be developed in scope and granularity over the coming years.
All parts of the organization will be engaged.
Sustainable Supply Chains
WREC - Environmental Sustainability in Humanitarian Logistics
The DRC is partner organization of the WREC Project - the Waste Management Measuring, Reverse Logistics, Environmentally Sustainable Procurement and Transport, and Circular Economy (WREC) Project which aims to
produce harmonized guidance on waste management and greenhouse gas emissions,
increase knowledge and awareness in the humanitarian community about green logistics,
and support practitioners in environmental impact reduction, with a special focus on sustained field-based solutions.
Read more about our strategy, frameworks and performance reports
Climate change, water shortages, and the vital role of extending essential services
08 Apr 2024
Driving Positive Change through Sustainable Initiatives
17 Mar 2024
Solar Streams: Transforming Water Access in Khirbit Ghazaleh Using Renewable Energy
06 Feb 2024
A Day of Disaster & a Year of Challenges
07 Nov 2023
Partnership: Danish Refugee Council (DRC) enters partnership with Response Innovation Lab (RIL)
29 Sep 2023
Afghanistan: Building rural resilience to cope with climate change
29 Sep 2023
Kosovo: Vulnerable populations at risk from effects of climate change
29 Sep 2023
Poland: Reducing the carbon footprint of DRC operations
15 Sep 2023
DRC Danish Refugee Council responds to the devastating storm and subsequent flooding in Northeast Libya
12 Sep 2023
Reaction to the deadly storm in Eastern Libya
30 Aug 2023
Agri-Tech Solutions for Better Climate Resilience in Displacement Affected Areas in Iraq
22 Aug 2023
Fair recycling: A plastic recycling ecosystem in Kenya
22 Aug 2023
The scoping forestry project
01 Jun 2023
Yemen - Piloting Biogas as a Source of Clean Energy and Fertilizer in Partnership with Yemini Social Enterprise
30 May 2023
Repeated Climate-shocks shatter the resilience of communities in Ethiopia
25 Apr 2023
DRC is dedicated to the environmental protection
01 Apr 2023
Promoting Climate Change Adaptation & Resilient Practices in Southern Coastal Areas in Bangladesh
06 Mar 2023
Identifying Natural Hazards and Impacts on Displacement Affected Communities Linked to Climate Change in West Africa
28 Feb 2023
Economic and environmental well-being via garment recycling
15 Jan 2023
Mainstreaming Environmental Approach in DRC's Livelihoods Strategy
01 Dec 2022
Climate resilience building of at-risk communities in Khulna district in Bangladesh
13 Oct 2022
Energy and Environment Programme in Tanzania: Boosting Resilience of People and the Forest
17 Aug 2022
DRC launches new efforts to address climate related displacement
05 Jul 2022
DRC Burundi: Partnering with Nature and People to Find the Solutions + Learning Brief
10 May 2022
DRC sets ambitious target: Reducing 50% of our carbon emissions by 2030
20 Mar 2022
Iraqi Water Week (14-22 March): Iraq’s water situation continues to deteriorate, with devastating impacts on lives and livelihoods for thousands of Iraqis
16 Mar 2022
Practicing Regenerative Resilience of Agroecosystems - training video
30 Nov 2021
Reframing mixed migration: MMC launches the Mixed Migration Review 2021
24 Nov 2020
Former DRC Country Director becomes permaculture farmer – David Kang’ethe
20 Oct 2020
Yemeni communities becoming resilient one seed at a time
20 Oct 2020
Localizing regenerative solutions in Tanzania
20 Oct 2020
Climate resilience among Rohingya refugees and their host communities
