INTERSOS’ total carbon emissions for 2022 amounted to 22,000 tons of CO2e. This is what emerges from the Carbon Footprint Report, which serves as a compass for INTERSOS to navigate its environmental roadmap and to guide in developing tailored solutions to reduce its carbon footprint, whilst addressing the pressing global issue of climate change. The publication of this report is an act of transparency and reinforces our commitment to address climate change and the environmental impact of our organisation.
This project was developed in collaboration with the organisation, HELP Logistics, a subsidiary organisation established by the Kühne Foundation focused on collaborating on projects and programs to address specific problem statements in the field of humanitarian logistics and supply chain management. Bruno Vandemeulebroecke, HELP Logistics’ Regional Director for West Africa states: “HELP Logistics proudly aligns with INTERSOS’s groundbreaking efforts in improving environmental sustainability within humanitarian operations. Our collaboration with INTERSOS, a leader in pioneering sustainable practices, is a testament to our mutual commitment to reducing long-term environmental impacts. Working alongside such a forward-thinking organisation is inspiring, combining our expertise to enhance the sustainability journey across different sectors and projects“.
Out of 23 countries where we operate, 14 are among the 60 most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In the Sahel, Afghanistan, and the Middle East, environmental degradation is an additional cause of forced displacement, aggravates conflicts over the appropriation of natural resources, and weakens the resilience of communities. At the same time, these communities in crisis are the most in need of support for adapting to current dynamics.
INTERSOS acknowledges its responsibility in addressing climate change and environmental impacts. “We recognize the urgency of climate change and its impact on the communities we serve. Guided by our established Environmental Policy in 2019, we are actively integrating sustainability into our supply chain, logistics, and facilities management”, says Filipe Louraço Costa, Director of Logistics and Supply at INTERSOS. “We believe that sustainable logistics are essential for effective humanitarian response, and we’re committed to continuous innovation, collaboration, and employee education to reduce our emissions further and support the well-being of the communities we assist”, he states.
The organisation is taking significant steps to minimise INTERSOS’ operations environmental impact and build a more resilient future, among which we can identify the carbon footprint accounting exercise across all our global operations, the setting of ambitious reduction targets for our vehicles, the optimisation of routes and warehouse operations to minimise transportation emissions, the prioritisation of local sourcing of goods and services to reduce distances and carbon footprint, and the investment in renewable energy solutions.
Martin Rosselot, Director of Programmes explains: “The people we support are among the most exposed and least prepared to face environmental degradation, particularly global warming. Aware of the seriousness of the environmental factors of crises, INTERSOS will take its responsibilities in two complementary directions: reducing the negative impacts of its activities and strengthening the resilience of affected populations. The Carbon Accounting Report provides the essential data to choose INTERSOS objectives and act as quickly as possible in all dimensions of our activity”.
Adopting operational tools to reduce the environmental impact of each project, such as NEAT+, is part of this approach. Furthermore, to better respond to the impacts of environmental degradation on humanitarian crises, the organisation will ensure that specific and measurable objectives are integrated into the 2025-2027 programming.
DOWNLOAD THE REPORT HERE