Climate change, disasters and humanitarian action

This chapter surveys how climate change affects humanitarian action. Humanitarian actors respond to disasters and support those affected by them. This chapter defines climate change and unpicks to what extent disasters are related to climate change, what causes climate change and how it impacts on and is addressed by humanitarian actors. It addresses to what extent disasters, conflict, and forced migration are caused by climate change and provides an overview of how humanitarian actors have responded to these challenges. The chapter discusses that different regions and populations are differently affected by climate change and that inequalities in access to humanitarian aid can be noticed. After defining humanitarianism and climate change, this chapter examines three areas of humanitarian intervention: disasters, conflict, and migration. Throughout, the chapter considers how in the context of humanitarianism and climate change, inequalities matter, persist, and are perpetuated.