Published on EnvironBuzz in collaboration with SCAN
On World Humanitarian Day 2025, the Sustainable Community Aid Network (SCAN) in partnership with EnvironBuzz Magazine hosted an insightful webinar titled “From Crisis to Community: Connecting Humanitarian Action with Climate Rights and Sustainable Development.” This powerful event brought together global leaders to highlight the urgent intersection of humanitarian crises, climate change, and sustainable development.
Humanitarian Crisis: Funding and Climate Challenges
Keynote speaker Darcy, Senior Communication Officer at UNHCR Canada, opened by outlining the dangers humanitarian workers face. With 2025 projected as the deadliest year on record for aid workers, she highlighted two pressing challenges:
- Funding shortages – UNHCR’s budget has stagnated while global displacement has doubled.
- Climate vulnerability – 75% of displaced people live in areas most at risk from climate change.
Darcy explained how community-led adaptation projects in Bangladesh and Colombia show promise, but fragile states still receive only $2 per person in climate adaptation funding, compared to $161 in stable states.
Climate Action as a Humanitarian Imperative
Darcy challenged participants to close the gap between climate inaction and humanitarian response.
Following this, Obie Agusiegbe, a sustainability leader with over 24 years of experience, stressed that in Canada, climate action is deeply linked to:
- Indigenous rights
- Climate disasters and housing crises
- Food insecurity
She explained that proactive investments in resilience save six times more than reactive responses.
Humanitarian Leadership and Global Impact
Obie introduced the Skills Network Mentorship Cycle, encouraging mentorship and grassroots leadership. She emphasized that humanitarian response is about justice and dignity, not just aid.
During the panel, leaders shared their work:
- Uche – Rotary International’s service model, including polio eradication.
- Dr. Chichi Menakaya – Trauma training and animal health services supporting women.
- Abdullah Dodd – Refugee Center’s expansion to serve 12,000 annually.
- Ogenna Madueke – Equality Fund’s $101M in feminist funding across 100+ countries.
- Darcy Knoll – Equality Fund’s $101M in feminist funding across 100+ countri
Climate Displacement: Voices from the Frontlines
The panel explored climate displacement challenges, with Abdullah outlining three major issues:
- Climate change not recognized as grounds for refugee status.
- Lack of oversight for displaced people outside UNHCR systems.
- Canada’s unpreparedness, leading to politicization of asylum seekers.
Darcy added that her optimism stems from the resilience of displaced communities.
Rotary’s Community-Led Action Model
Uche explained Rotary’s grassroots action framework, which includes:
- Local needs assessments
- Stakeholder engagement
- Matching grant systems
This model has been crucial in polio eradication, where Rotary has invested over $16 billion since 1985
Ethical Investment and Gender Inclusion
Abdullah addressed Canada’s foreign policy impacts on displacement while noting positive momentum in sustainable investment practices.
Ogenna highlighted that gender lens investment programs consistently outperform traditional models, proving that inclusion drives both impact and profitability.
The session closed with Aishat inviting participants to mentor, volunteer, and take community action. Shanika announced the next webinar on food loss and waste awareness.
Poll Results: Humanitarian Climate Action Priorities
During the webinar, SCAN conducted an interactive poll to gather participant perspectives.
Poll 1: From Crisis to Community
(19 participants · 73.7% completion)
Q1: Which issue feels most urgent to you right now?
- Climate Crisis – 50%
- Clean Water & Food Security – 44%
- Human Rights Protection – 56%
- Health & Well-being – 33%
- Disaster Relief & Recovery – 28%
Q2: Who should lead humanitarian climate solutions?
- Governments & Policymakers – 35%
- Community Groups & NGOs – 41%
- Youth & Volunteers – 12%
- Businesses & Industry – 41%
- Everyone together – 59% is Key
Q3: Do you see a direct link between climate change and human rights?
- Yes, strongly – 73%
- Somewhat – 20%
- Not really – 0%
- I’d like to learn more – 7%
Key Takeaways
- Humanitarian crises and climate change are inseparable, 75% of displaced people live in climate-vulnerable regions.
- Proactive climate resilience saves resources and lives, compared to reactive aid.
- Inclusive funding and leadership models amplify marginalized voices, particularly women and refugees.
- Collaboration across sectors from healthcare to grassroots organizations, is essential.
This event showed that humanitarian action, climate rights, and sustainable development are not separate fights, they are one shared struggle for dignity, justice, and resilience.
Further Reading on EnvironBuzz
- The Road Ahead: Why Public Transportation is Essential for a Sustainable Canada
- The Rise of Sustainable Finance and Its Impact on Global Business
- How Microplastics Are Infiltrating Our Bodies and What Canada Is Doing About It
