Mercy Corps has launched a Community Climate Initiative to help vulnerable populations around the world deal with the effects of global warming. The initiative will include a range of projects to boost communities' efforts to mitigate and adapt to the increasing severity and frequency of floods, droughts, hurricanes and other natural disasters.
A key component of this initiative is taking a look at the way the organization itself contributes to climate change through greenhouse gases. Mercy Corps has placed a priority on mitigating its own impact on the environment by measuring its carbon footprint and committing to becoming carbon neutral.
This resulting carbon footprint study, conducted in the United Kingdom by the Camco Group, measured on-site energy consumption, owned vehicles, travel, office deliveries, and waste disposal in all of Mercy Corps field offices and international headquarters.
(A short summary of the report, as Frequently Asked Questions, is available by clicking here.)
"Climate change has become the most serious threat to communities where we work, and we believe that we have an humanitarian imperative to address this problem," said Jim Jarvie, Mercy Corps' Director of Climate Change, Environment and Natural Resources. "Climate change is a 24/7 natural disaster and Mercy Corps is adjusting our programs and initiating efforts to help communities prepare and adapt."
In addition to measurements, this study proposes ways in which staff can significantly reduce their carbon footprint.
Over the last five years, more than 89% of resources allocated directly to programs.