The Changing Landscape of Humanitarian Aid in a Warming World: An Assessment of Strategic Changes Made by the IFRC to Accommodate for Climate Change

This thesis examines how the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has strategically and institutionally integrated climate change into its humanitarian work, with a focus on disaster aid. As climate change increasingly shapes the scale and nature of humanitarian need, organisations such as the IFRC face pressure to move from reactive emergency response to anticipatory, climate-informed action. While existing literature acknowledges this shift, little research has explored how it is implemented within the internal frameworks of humanitarian actors. Using a qualitative case study approach, this thesis analyses key IFRC documents, including two ten-year strategies (Strategy 2020 and Strategy 2030), six Global Plans (2020–2025), and the 2022 Disaster Risk Management Policy. Through close reading and thematic tracing, the analysis identifies changes in how climate change is framed, prioritised, and operationalised over time. The findings show that...Show moreThis thesis examines how the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has strategically and institutionally integrated climate change into its humanitarian work, with a focus on disaster aid. As climate change increasingly shapes the scale and nature of humanitarian need, organisations such as the IFRC face pressure to move from reactive emergency response to anticipatory, climate-informed action. While existing literature acknowledges this shift, little research has explored how it is implemented within the internal frameworks of humanitarian actors. Using a qualitative case study approach, this thesis analyses key IFRC documents, including two ten-year strategies (Strategy 2020 and Strategy 2030), six Global Plans (2020–2025), and the 2022 Disaster Risk Management Policy. Through close reading and thematic tracing, the analysis identifies changes in how climate change is framed, prioritised, and operationalised over time. The findings show that climate adaptation has become both a strategic and institutional priority for the IFRC. The IFRC employs a hybrid approach to climate adaptation in that climate change is integrated across all sectors while also supported by specialised tools, reference centres, and dedicated platforms. Key developments include increased investment in anticipatory action, locally led resilience, and environmentally sustainable practices. This thesis argues that the IFRC has made climate change a cross-sectoral priority by integrating climate considerations in all sectors and committing to both enhancing community adaptation and institutional adaptation. It contributes to academic discussions on climate governance in humanitarian action and provides a concrete example of adaptation in practice. Future research could further explore the financial and operational dimensions of climate adaptation through budget analysis, annual reporting, or comparative case studies across organisations.Show less

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The Changing Landscape of Humanitarian Aid in a Warming World: An Assessment of Strategic Changes Made by the IFRC to Accommodate for Climate Change