Tracking Emissions in Humanitarian Action: Challenges and Pathways for NGOs

Humanitarian organizations face critical challenges in systematically tracking and mitigating their project-related carbon emissions, despite growing recognition of sustainability's importance. Utilizing tools such as the Humanitarian Carbon Calculator (HCC), this research identifies key barriers for NGOs, including inconsistent data quality, and the absence of standardized measurement methodologies. Interviews and practical tracking exercises reveal that effective emission- tracking hinges on formalizing internal structures, clearly assigning responsibilities, and embedding carbon accounting within strategic policy frameworks. Establishing dedicated task forces or focal points significantly enhances tracking efficiency and institutional commitment. Furthermore, inadequate financial backing from donors remains a significant barrier, underscoring the need for donors to actively incentivize and financially support carbon tracking, including funding mechanisms that favor sustainable alternatives such as solar panels. Capacity strengthening within NGOs emerges as a critical need. Building internal expertise through structured training, onboarding, and sector-wide capacity-building initiatives is essential. However, resource constraints, especially in smaller NGOs, necessitate broader, donor-funded support mechanisms — such as technical assistance hubs or centralized helpdesks — to provide practical guidance and troubleshooting support. The study highlights the vital role of adapting the HCC to meet diverse operational realities, advocating continuous improvements through structured feedback loops with its user community. Additionally, integrating emission-tracking into existing organizational workflows through automation and simplified digital solutions significantly reduces manual efforts and enhances data accuracy. The overarching recommendation for donors and NGOs is to collaboratively establish robust emission-tracking frameworks supported by dedicated funding, capacity-building initiatives, standardized methodologies, and centralized support mechanisms. These measures are crucial to operational transparency, accountability, and effectiveness, ultimately ensuring humanitarian responses remain sustainable amidst escalating climate challenges.