Greening disaster management through localization

Abstract

There are increasing pressures on the humanitarian system. On the one hand, there is a funding gap threatening the international community will not be able to meet humanitarian needs in the future. On the other hand, the multitude of pressures on the environment, are eroding environmental resilience and increasing vulnerabilities to disasters. To counteract these pressures on the humanitarian system, this research investigates the alignment of localization and green response and the barriers to implementation, to determine if localization and green response can aid the humanitarian system to become more effective and efficient.
The thesis includes the examination of the key concepts; localization, green response, change and complexity, accountability, and risk perception. The results reveal that localization and green response can be theoretically linked and identifies the current funding structures and approaches to partnerships as main obstacles for the implementation of the concepts. Regarding green response, an important issue is raising environmental awareness on the local level. The thesis concludes that localization and green response hold great potential to improve humanitarian practices, but they cannot be treated as a universal solution to issues in the humanitarian sector.

Popular Abstract

Greening disaster management through localization
Imagine a small community being severely affected by a disaster: Buildings, materials and inventory have been destroyed, their local capacities to respond to the disaster are overwhelmed and they request support. Usually, in large-scale disasters, incoming international actors provide rapid relief to the affected population such as single-use hygiene products or tents to replace the destroyed accommodations. Unfortunately, these measures usually become the day-to-day-reality of the affected population over long periods until the rebuilding process can begin. By that time the international actors may have already left again, leaving behind the materials and packaging waste they have brought along. Thereby, they may inadvertently cause negative environmental impacts in the area, making the environment more vulnerable for disasters in the future. Fortunately, over the past years the awareness of disaster responses’ potential negative environmental impact is growing.
Moreover, there is usually no pause beforehand to discuss between the local and international actors what kind of support is actually desired locally: For example, should the focus be on rebuilding homes or community centers? Are goods the best way to move forward or is funding to local infrastructure more efficient? A more detailed discussion of these questions could allow a response which is ‘as local as possible, as international as necessary’. It describes the concept of ‘localization’ which assumes that local actors are in the best position to decide what is needed to improve their situation. Hence, they should direct the international support required.
Due to the increasing environmental and financial pressures, this thesis investigated, whether there are cross benefits between localization and more environmentally conscious disaster response: Do local actors show a greater concern for the environment as they are more exposed to the long-term effects or, inversely, if more concern for the environment during the response provides opportunities for greater involvement of local actors. Thereby, contributing to more sustainable disaster response for
the environment and targeting the needs of the affected population more efficiently.
To do this, in addition to the two main concepts, further concepts such as accountability, the Theory of Change and risk perception were examined. It was found that on a theoretical level both measures are widely accepted and no inherent constraints were identified. Unfortunately, there are many uncertainties on how to promote these concepts in practice. Certain areas where change is necessary, such as funding structures and the perception of and cooperation in partnerships, have been identified.
However, how long-lasting improvements can be made requires more in-depth research. Furthermore, international actors need to examine how they can support local actors best and promote the need for environmental protection on all levels. Regardless, by implementing changes to these mechanisms, disaster responses can not only become more sustainable, but also more efficient.

• author: Schlicksupp, Klara
• supervisor: Mo Hamza
• organization: Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
• course: VBRM15 20251
• year: 2025
• type: H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
• subject: Social Sciences
• keywords: Localization, green response, response, recovery
• language: English
• id: 9184881
• date added to LUP: 2025-02-25 08:28:45
• date last changed: 2025-02-25 08:28:45