Abridged from the Executive Summary 

The International Aid of the Luxembourg Red Cross (AICRL), in partnership with its National Society counterparts, has conducted a series of environmental studies on its humanitarian housing solutions. The goal is to comprehensively understand and significantly reduce the ecological footprint of housing interventions in crisis settings. This initiative is driven by a fundamental principle: safeguarding people is inseparable from safeguarding nature. 

Why these Studies Matter 

Shelter is essential for stability, safety, and dignity for families in crisis. However, its construction often imposes severe environmental pressure, contributing to deforestation, soil degradation, water depletion, greenhouse gas emissions, and creating challenging waste management issues. 

This environmental strain weakens ecosystems, jeopardizes local livelihoods, and fuels a cycle of degradation, poverty, and heightened vulnerability to climate and humanitarian shocks. Sustainable humanitarian assistance must decisively break this cycle by protecting both the affected populations and the vital natural resources they rely on. 

Studies were conducted across eight countries: Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, DRC, Burundi, Madagascar, Niger, and upcoming in Benin. 

Key Findings 

The assessments underscore several crucial principles for sustainable housing: 

• Local and Natural Materials: These are often the most eco-friendly, provided they are harvested responsibly. Overexploitation must be strictly avoided to prevent ecosystem degradation.
• Manufactured Materials: Materials like cement, steel, and plastic carry a significant environmental cost. Their use must be balanced against technical necessity, availability, and affordability.
• Waste Management: Must be an integrated part of programme design from the outset to ensure construction activities do not become new sources of pollution.
• Building for Durability: Long-term structures are more cost-effective and resource-efficient, avoiding the need for repeated reconstruction and conserving resources.
• Logistics and Transport: These are major drivers of the carbon footprint. Essential mitigation measures include prioritising genuinely local materials, optimising transport routes, and implementing green logistics training.
• The Right Balance:  Effective and relevant humanitarian housing hinges on achieving the right balance between environmental sustainability, social acceptance, and economic viability. 

Key Message 

A durable shelter is not just a solid structure; it must embody a necessary balance between social needs, economic realities, and environmental responsibility. “To build a shelter is to protect a life. To build sustainably is to protect the future.”