Climate-friendly volunteering

Climate change is one of the greatest global challenges of our time, and at the same time, a major humanitarian crisis. Its impacts are visible all over the world. Climate change has increased extreme weather phenomena such as heavy rains, floods, and storms, exceptional heatwaves, as well as droughts and wildfires. Climate change affects health, food production, agriculture, ecosystems, and livelihoods in many ways.

It makes survival even harder for people who are already in the most vulnerable positions and forces people to move. Significant resources are required to mitigate climate change, respond to its consequences, and repair damages.

As a significant global humanitarian actor, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement responds to the impacts of climate change and growing humanitarian needs, and strives to mitigate climate change by changing its own operations.

Are you looking for tips on how to carry out volunteering in a way that doesn't burden the climate or the environment? See more in the file below!

Read about the Finnish Red Cross climate sustainability policy: Ilmastokestävyyden linjaus 2022.pdf (in Finnish)

The Climate Influencers volunteer group has also produced a guide on how we can take climate-friendliness into account in volunteering.

Attachments and links:

• Climate guide for branches 2023.pdf
• Ilmastoystävällisen vapaaehtoistoiminnan ohje.pdf (in Finnish)
• Ympäristöohjelman malli osastoille (HUP) (in Finnish)
• Sosiaalisen hyvinvoinnin toiminnan ilmasto-ohje (in Finnish)