The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is deeply concerned about the threats posed by the climate crisis. This crisis exacerbates the challenges faced by our clients and in our most recent strategy, Strategy100, we have reflected this by adding explicit recognition of its importance in our mission statement. We are dedicated to leading by example and have made a commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The IRC’s Climate Action Plan integrates climate mitigation and environmental sustainability into our organisational culture, operationalises an organisation environmental policy, and incentivises behaviour change from headquarters to our offices. We will hold ourselves to account by routinely measuring performance against a core set of climate-smart operational indicators, which will be continually reviewed and assessed to ensure we are taking all necessary steps to mitigate environmental impact.
With global reach across 50 countries and 20,000 staff and volunteers who support our clients, the IRC can meaningfully contribute to the transition to a net-zero future. From improving our climate sustainability to incorporating climate resilient approaches across our operational models, the IRC will face head-on our generation’s collective challenge to serve as better stewards for the planet.