Humanitarian organizations and systems, already overstretched, are confronting unprecedented challenges in their ability to provide support amid the climate crisis. Stresses range from unreliability of funding sources to exhaustion and mental health impacts affecting staff and volunteers.

Large, unprecedented disasters are becoming more common and more devastating in the wake of the climate emergency, easily surpassing existing capacities. Medium and even relatively small extreme events, hitting with increased frequency, can also overwhelm the ability to provide shelter, food, water, and other essentials. As such, the expected increase in frequency and severity of climate-related extreme events threatens to overwhelm the world’s current capacity to anticipate and respond to disasters.

When climate-related shocks hit, impacts can be much more severe when the population is already experiencing scarcity of essentials. The most vulnerable sectors of the population are often most dependent on external support in times of shock. What’s more, armed conflict and violence, economic instability, and environmental degradation often overlap, exacerbating harm.

Still, there are many ways to strengthen humanitarian support systems. Climate risks can be accounted for in robust policies and programs. Anticipatory financing, well planned procedures, and swift, effective action can make a huge difference.

This card has an ongoing effect.

After this card is triggered in the Crisis stage, players may not tuck cards under other Crisis cards (apart from this one).

To discard this card, players must tuck 2 Society tags under it during the Local stage.

Global Humanitarian Overview 2022 (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA)

• Volunteer your time and talent for humanitarian organizations.

• Encourage your government and your employer to support aid endeavors, nationally and globally.

• Help your family and community adapt to changing climate risks.