The Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations

What The Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations does

The Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations is a voluntary sector-wide framework, proclaimed in May 2021, that articulates seven commitments to guide humanitarian organizations in addressing climate change and environmental degradation. Its core offering is the Charter document itself, accompanied by a Guidance Themes and Tools Platform that provides thematic resources across disaster risk reduction, environmental sustainability, indigenous and local knowledge, nature-based solutions, climate risk data, and adaptation in fragile settings. Distribution occurs through a self-service digital signing flow on climate-charter.org (available in English, Spanish, French, and Arabic), a Signatory Portal for tracking targets and progress reports, bimonthly email newsletters, recurring webinars, and active participation at COPs (28, 29, 30). The Charter is administered by ICVA (International Council of Voluntary Agencies) and governed by an inaugural Board comprising IFRC, ICRC, and ICVA as permanent members with rotating signatory and state seats.

The Charter operates without a commercial revenue model. It is funded exclusively through grant contributions from three government donors — DG ECHO (European Union), USAID, and SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) — which jointly financed the establishment of the Secretariat announced at COP28 in December 2023 and operationalized in May 2024. The Secretariat's go-to-market is community-led and multi-stakeholder: it relies on the distribution networks of IFRC (191 countries, 16M+ volunteers), ICVA (global NGO network), and partner organizations (FAO, IUCN, SPHERE, ECOWEB Philippines, IASC Sub-group on Climate, Donor Greening Working Group). Customer segments are humanitarian NGOs, the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement, UN agencies, and supporting states; as of May 2024 the Charter had attracted over 400 organizational signatories and 13 supporting states with operational reach across 100+ countries.

Name

The Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations

Legal name

The Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations

Website

https://climate-charter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations is a voluntary framework providing seven commitments to guide humanitarian organizations on climate and environmental action. Administered by ICVA with ICRC and IFRC as permanent Board members, it counts 400+ signatories across 100+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Climate Coordination Framework

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPADALAD), Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Humanitarian climate framework
• Voluntary charter commitments
• Climate-environment coordination
• Humanitarian sector policy
• Disaster risk reduction

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Funding and Grants: The Charter Secretariat is funded through grants from government donors including DG ECHO (European Union), USAID, and SDC (Switzerland). No commercial revenue model exists as this is a non-profit humanitarian initiative.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations is a voluntary commitment framework comprising seven commitments designed to guide humanitarian organizations in systematically responding to climate and environmental crises. It provides a common sector-wide framework along with thematic guidance resources, tools, an online signatory portal, technical support through the Charter Secretariat, and knowledge-sharing platforms to enable humanitarian organizations to address climate and environmental responsibilities in their work.

Product overview

The Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations is a voluntary framework comprising seven commitments designed to guide humanitarian organizations in responding to climate and environmental crises. The core offering is the Charter itself, supported by a Guidance Themes and Tools Platform providing thematic resources on topics including environmental sustainability, nature-based solutions, indigenous knowledge, disaster risk reduction, and climate adaptation. Additional offerings include a Signatory Portal for organizations to sign and track commitments, a bimonthly Newsletter, and a Webinars and Events Program. The Charter Secretariat provides coordination and support services to signatories. This is not a software product but rather a coordination framework and resource hub for the humanitarian sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Climate and Environment Charter A voluntary charter containing seven commitments that help humanitarian organizations systematically respond to climate and environmental crises. The Charter addresses the unique challenges and responsibilities of humanitarian action regarding climate and environment, covering disaster risk reduction, emissions reduction, locally-led action, evidence-based solutions, cross-sector collaboration, advocacy, and target-setting.
• Guidance Themes and Tools Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 humanitarian organizations committed to Charter principles
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023One of three permanent Board members and co-leaders of the Charter development process. ICRC provides governance oversight and policy expertise on humanitarian action in conflict settings. Founded in 1863, ICRC is an independent and neutral organization ensuring humanitarian protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023One of three permanent Board members and co-leaders of the Charter development process. IFRC is the world's largest humanitarian network, supporting local Red Cross and Red Crescent action and community resilience in over 191 countries, with more than 16 million volunteers.
• International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Administering body of the Charter Secretariat. One of three permanent Board members. ICVA is a global network of NGOs whose mission is to make humanitarian action more principled and effective through collective and independent work to influence policies and practices.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of COP30 webinar with the Charter Secretariat. Joint initiative to sensitize Charter signatories and the humanitarian sector on COP30 processes, thematic days, and opportunities for humanitarian engagement in climate action.
• SPHEREminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in nature-based solutions webinar. Developed the Nature Based Solutions guide providing practical guidance for using Sphere minimum standards when implementing NbS in humanitarian action including disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
• ECOWEB PhilippinesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-convenor of webinar on nature-based solutions and indigenous/local knowledge in humanitarian action. Collaborated on launching guidance pages for NbS and Indigenous and Local Knowledge.
• IUCNminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-convenor of webinar on nature-based solutions and indigenous/local knowledge. Provided expertise on indigenous peoples programming and nature-based solutions guidance.
• Manipur Women Gun Survivors NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-convenor of webinar on nature-based solutions and indigenous/local knowledge. Partner in the Global Alliance of Indigenous Peoples, Gender Justice, and Peace.
• Climate Action Network International (CAN-I)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in COP29 collective action webinar. Collaboration to explore how the humanitarian sector can engage in COP29 through collective advocacy and shared initiatives.
• IASC Sub-group on ClimateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in COP29 collective action webinar. Joint initiative to strengthen climate action coordination across the humanitarian system.
• Environment, Climate, Conflict and Peace (ECCP) Community of PracticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in COP29 collective action webinar. Collaboration on peace-climate-humanitarian collective action initiatives.
• Donor Greening Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of webinar on Greening Humanitarian Assistance. Developed 10 Common Donor Priority Actions on Greening Humanitarian Assistance aligned with the Charter and Donor Declaration on Climate and Environment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sphere: Sphere sets the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response — the closest analog to the Climate Charter in terms of being a sector-wide voluntary framework for humanitarian organizations. Both are referenced together in the Charter's nature-based solutions guidance.
• Start Network: A global network of humanitarian NGOs that, like the Charter, convenes humanitarian organizations around shared standards and collective action. Compares as a peer membership-based coordination mechanism for humanitarian NGOs.
• Climate Action Network International (CAN-I): A global network of over 1,800 civil society organizations advocating for climate action. Partnered with the Charter on COP29 collective action webinars and operates in an adjacent advocacy-coordination role for civil society climate engagement.
• CHS Alliance (Core Humanitarian Standard): Manages the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability, a voluntary accountability framework for humanitarian and aid organizations. Directly comparable as a voluntary, sector-wide commitments-based framework addressing humanitarian practice.

Broad incumbents

• UN OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs): The UN's central coordination body for humanitarian response, with which the Charter engages via the IASC Sub-group on Climate. Provides the institutional context within which the Charter operates.
• Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC): The longest-standing humanitarian coordination body (UN-led), with which the Charter partners via the IASC Sub-group on Climate. Operates as the broader system-level umbrella within which the Climate Charter operates as a thematic initiative.
• International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA): A permanent Board member and administering body of the Charter Secretariat. ICVA is a global NGO network influencing humanitarian policy and practice — directly comparable as an NGO coordination infrastructure and parent governance body.
• Race to Zero / UNFCCC High-Level Champions: UNFCCC-backed global campaign mobilizing non-state actors (including humanitarian organizations) to commit to net-zero pathways. Operates in the same climate-commitment space as the Charter but at a broader cross-sector scale.

Emerging players

• NEAT+ (Norwegian Refugee Council Environmental Assessment Tool): An environmental assessment tool referenced directly in Charter webinars and guidance. Functionally comparable as a climate-environment assessment resource for humanitarian operations, though more narrowly scoped than the Charter.

Others

• International Climate Initiative (IKI): A major climate finance vehicle funded by the German government that supports climate adaptation and mitigation projects in developing countries. Comparable as a climate-finance ecosystem peer, though focused on project funding rather than sector coordination.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/climate-charter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations