Dubai, UAE – November 06, 2023 -Dubai’s International Humanitarian City (IHC) held the Sustainable Humanitarian Supply Chain Pre-Conference last week (Thursday and Friday), in collaboration with key partners, including the World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Unicef, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Logistics Cluster.
Under the theme “On the Road to COP28,” the event marked a significant milestone in the humanitarian community’s ongoing commitment to address the climate crisis. It provided a platform for an array of stakeholders, including UN organizations, international non-governmental organizations, national entities, manufacturers, suppliers, shipping companies, educational institutions, digital companies, and donors, to converge with a common purpose. Leading organizations and corporations discussed the challenges across the humanitarian supply chain sector while showcasing success stories in implementing sustainability initiatives.
Giuseppe Saba, CEO of the International Humanitarian City, emphasized the significance of the event, stating, “We wanted this pre-conference to be a breeding ground for practical solutions. In a world facing a climate crisis, it is paramount that humanitarian supply chains adapt and evolve. By joining forces and sharing our successes, we are not just adapting to change; we are driving it. We launched this initiative at our Global Meeting in March, and we carried the conversation forward with our partners in a specialized session at the Humanitarian Networking and Partnerships Weeks in Geneva in addition to other regular meetings with our local and international partners. Our aim is for the Sustainable Humanitarian Supply Chain Conference to set a new benchmark in the humanitarian landscape with actionable insights and steps to reduce carbon emissions throughout the humanitarian supply chain significantly. It is a resounding testament to the sector’s commitment to not only meet the increasing demands for aid but to do so in an environmentally responsible manner.”
As the outcomes of the pre-conference will be further solidified during the much-anticipated COP28, hosted in Dubai in the UAE, the collective message from the humanitarian supply chain and logisticians gathered at IHC revolved around awareness, accountability, collaboration, and a call to action for the global humanitarian community. The participants agreed throughout the discussion panels, that it is not only possible but imperative to combine efficient impact with sustainability.