Mercy Corps to Reduce Carbon Footprint by 50% by 2030

The global organization Mercy Corps has committed to cut its carbon footprint in half by 2030, in support of urgent global efforts to reduce emissions in the face of irreversible global warming and the devastating impacts of the climate crisis.

“The climate crisis is an immediate threat to all humanity and it is already disproportionately affecting the communities we work with around the world: people facing poverty, conflict, and hunger,” says Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Corps. “We are committed to playing our part in helping to reduce emissions, in addition to our core work of helping communities around the world adapt urgently to the changing climate, and expanding access to climate-smart, sustainable energy.”

Mercy Corps’ carbon footprint takes into account all of the activities undertaken to run its global programs, from business operations to the purchase of goods and services to travel and fuel consumption. The organization’s target to reduce emissions by half will be measured against its baseline carbon footprint in 2019. The organization today also announced an interim target of reducing its carbon footprint by 25% by 2024.

“We have already begun taking action to reduce our carbon footprint, including switching to green energy providers, deploying rooftop solar offices, and increasing the practice of virtual meetings to reduce travel,” says D’Oyen McKenna. “Mercy Corps has offices in Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia that are using 100% clean energy, and we are working to bring solar power to other offices across our 40+ countries of operation.”

Beyond working to reduce its own carbon footprint, Mercy Corps maintains a focus on helping communities around the world adapt to the climate crisis and find cleaner, more accessible energy solutions. In September 2021, Mercy Corps merged with Energy 4 Impact to increase access to climate-smart, sustainable energy, bringing Energy 4 Impact’s expertise into Mercy Corps’ large and diverse portfolio of humanitarian and development programs.

Notes to editors:

• In 2020, Mercy Corps signed the InterAction-led NGO Climate Compact, alongside 30 other organizations, intended to spur large-scale change across the international aid and development sector and support other global goals like the Sustainable Development Goals and UN Paris Agreement on Climate Change. 
• Mercy Corps has also signed the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations, which provides a clear vision and principles to guide humanitarian action in the face of the climate and environment crises.