Environmental hazards have the potential to impact infrastructure.

Locating transport facilities and supporting infrastructure near to the beneficiaries and potential disaster location typically reduces delivery times and cost. However, the facilities and infrastructure could be damaged or destroyed by environmental disasters such as landslides, earthquakes, and floods.

The geographical location of the facilities and infrastructure does not have to be located close to the disaster-prone area. However, their location should be determined as a balance between risk, access, and reduced negative environmental impacts such as excessive distribution of vehicle emissions.

Promote equality of opportunity and inclusion for drivers, technicians, and logisticians including minorities and people living with disabilities.

Soil pollution
Water pollution
Air pollution
Climate change

· Vehicle greenhouse gas emissions
· Soil and water pollution from fuel spills or inappropriate vehicle washing
· Wear and tear / erosion of roads, especially unpaved roads
· Damage to drainage channels, watercourses

Humanitarian transport facilities and infrastructure can impact the environment through vehicle greenhouse gas emissions, particularly if older vehicles are used.
· Soil and water pollution from fuel spills or inappropriate vehicle washing
· Wear and tear/erosion of roads, especially unpaved roads
· Damage to drainage channels, watercourses

· Appropriate location of vehicle compounds and maintenance/repair workshops
· Purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles, including electric vehicles where their use is viable.
· Using the appropriately sized vehicle for the purpose – not using lorries for personal trips
· Regular vehicle maintenance.
· Plan efficient vehicle transport routes.
· Checking for, preventing, and cleaning up any fuel or oil spills.
· Non-polluting methods of vehicle cleaning.
· Upgrading roads that are to be used for regular distribution via large and heavy vehicles.
· Ensuring good quality components are used for maintenance and repair and end of life parts are recycled or disposed of in non-polluting ways.

The environmental impact of transport facilities and infrastructure can be reduced, including through the following activities:

Locating vehicle compounds and maintenance/repair workshops away from environmentally sensitive areas so they cannot pollute them. Ensuring all fuels, oils, paints, lubricants, etc are safely stored, managed, spills contained/cleared up, and safely disposed of. Ensuring good quality components are used for maintenance and repair and end of life parts are recycled or disposed of in non-polluting ways.

Assess road infrastructure and upgrade if lorries will cause road degradation that will be detrimental to the environment (damaging drainage, runoff, breaking up the road surface/edges/potholes).

Purchasing efficient equipment and fuel-efficient vehicles, including electric vehicles where their use is viable. Using the appropriately sized vehicle for the purpose – not using lorries for personal trips. Regular vehicle inspection and maintenance and non-polluting methods of regular vehicle cleaning – reusing greywater for initial clean where possible.

Plan efficient vehicle transport routes.

Source or create environmentally sustainable / non-polluting solid waste recycling or disposal methods.

Independent monitoring of agencies responding to the Nepal earthquake found that drivers all came from the same caste and gender. When this was highlighted, the action was taken to improve diversity.

This brought an additional benefit of diverse contribution to local knowledge, customs, and even engagement with beneficiaries and understanding of the local environment.

The transport plan maximises the use of efficient, low polluting vehicles.

The transport plan ensures transport facilities are efficient, well maintained and avoid pollution.

Prevention of environmental damage

Mitigation of environmental damage

Time and cost for locating, assessing, and establishing transport infrastructure and facilities.