Guidance for Environmental Preparedness Planning

Relevant steps for including environmental considerations in the planning of emergency preparedness

• Involve both humanitarian and environmental actors in the preparedness planning process.
  • If possible, engage the Ministry of Environment (or equivalent) to develop national coordination structures between environmental and emergency response actors.
  • Let humanitarian and environmental actors get to know one another, as the aim of the preparedness planning process is not only to develop a contingency plan but also to build a diverse network of actors who can contribute to the emergency response.
• Plan for environment-related contingencies and environmental emergencies
  • Consider possible environment-related contingencies and assess existing response capacities for such contingencies.
  • Prepare for receiving external assistance for environmental emergencies (see here for specific guidance).
• Devise follow-up actions to anticipated emergency response needs, based on existing resources and capabilities.
  • Depending on the available resources and capacities, seek to ensure a sustainable procurement of necessary equipment.
  • Devise capacity development initiatives, and (with the help of environmental actors) instruct emergency responders on key environmental concerns.
• Maintain adaptiveness throughout the planning process, as risk and vulnerability patterns continuously change.
  • Factor in the various global and local trends, such as climate change, population growth and poverty, that contribute to changing patterns of risk and vulnerability.
  • Recognize that preparedness planning is a continuous process which should always seek to involve multiple stakeholders and incorporate the lessons learned from disasters.