1  2014‐05‐09  ENVIRONMENT MARKER Each humanitarian project should identify its potential impact on the local environment, and address it in a manner which is tailored to the specific country. Through simple coding using the letters A, B and C, with a plus sign (+) for adequate enhancement or mitigation measures, the Environment Marker tracks a project’s expected impact on the environment, and whether recommended actions have been undertaken. The tool is to be seen as a possibility to ensure that any negative impact on the local environment of a humanitarian project is reduced as much as possible. CODE DESCRIPTION CODE DESCRIPTION A Neutral impact on environment – without enhancement The project will only have a little or no negative impact on the environment. No environmental enhancement is included in the project. A+ Projects with Environment Marker “A” with environmentally enhancing features. This project will have a positive environmental impact. B Medium environmental impact – without mitigation The project contains environmentally harmful components but do not include any, or sufficient enough of mitigation measures to reduce anticipated impact. B+ Projects with Environment Marker “B” with mitigation in accordance to sector guidance. These projects should identify their likely impact on the environment, and develop mitigation measures by using relevant section of the Sector Guidance. C High environmental impact – without mitigation The project will have a major negative environmental impact but does not include sufficient mitigation measures. C+ Projects with Environment Marker “C” with either: (1 ) An Environmental and Social Screening Assessment (ESSA) or; (2) An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), followed by the development of an agency mitigation plan or a Community Environmental Action Plan (CEAP) with the affected community. Note that some high impact projects might be required a specific type of assessment by national regulations. N/A Not Applicable. This option is only possible for a low number of projects (for example Logistics and Telecommunications cluster/sector).   PROJECT TYPE MITIGATION DESCRIPTION B projects Applies Sector Guidance. B projects can mitigate their impact by using the sector guidance. C projects. C projects can assess and mitigate their major impact using one (or more) of the following options Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (can sometimes be provided by the national authority relevant to the specific field of work) Community Environmental Action Plan (CEAP) CEAPs include follow up action planning. Agency mitigation plan   Contact your Cluster/Sector Coordinator, or UNEP if in country for supporting documents to the Environment Marker. Find more information on the UNEP Environmental Mainstreaming webpage: http://www.unep.org/disastersandconflicts/CountryOperations/Sudan/Environmentalmainstreaming/tabid/54245/Defau lt.aspx       2  2014‐05‐09  Environment Marker - Guidance Note The CAME approach and environment in the project cycle Integrating environment into humanitarian programming does not have to be difficult. There is a straight forward approach to integrating environment, by following these four steps: C CONTEXTUALISE projects given the environmental vulnerabilities of the areas they are located in Which are the main environmental problems in the country/region/community (deforestation, water scarcity, other)? Are there sensitive/protected areas in the nearby area (such as forests, water courses)? What are natural resources traditionally used for? Do male and female users have different priorities? A ASSESS projects for potential negative environmental impacts, given this context Does the project impact directly on the local environment, specifically on previously identified main environmental issues? This could be the overuse of scarce water resources, or the cutting of trees for construction works. Does the project impact indirectly on the environment? (For example use of material brought in from other areas, causing unsustainable harvesting of wood in these locations, or the risk of deforestation as a result of increased population? M MITIGATE impacts by modifying the project design, or compensating for negative impacts How can the direct and indirect impacts be reduced/ avoided? Have you reviewed best practices, case studies etc. from other organisations doing similar type of activities? Have you consulted with the local community/government to identify traditional and environmentally responsible solutions? E ENHANCE environmental benefits in the project After impact assessment and mitigation, what other enhancement measures can be added to the project? Can enhancement activities be combined with other sectors? (For example planting of fruit trees as enhancement could also contribute to increased nutritional value; production of SSBs can also be an income generating activity.) Environment should be integrated through the entire project management cycle: Assessment: integration of environmental issues in the assessments will ensure that environmental harm is reduced or eliminated and environmental benefits are maximized. When assessing environmental issues, understanding the specific context is critical. For example, in the Darfur States in Sudan, deforestation/ desertification, and water scarcity are the two main environmental problems, and projects that could potentially affect forests and other land vegetation and water sources need to eliminate and/or mitigate negative impacts as much as possible. It is also recommended to assess other potential environmental problems relevant in the specific project or region. Design and response: The context is also important in designing the response – key environmental concerns should be built into the project. One example to ease pressures on forestry resources would be the introduction of alternative construction material such as Stabilised Soil Blocks (SSB) or Cement Stabilised Blocks (CSB) to replace fired bricks for construction activities, depending on the availability of the needed inputs and technology in the region. M&E: Monitoring and evaluation of the outcomes of a response is important to ensure that the effects sought for were indeed delivered, and to help identify possible negative environmental effects in time to allow for an adjustment of activities. It is a necessary part of ensuring that the principle of Do No Harm is fulfilled. Furthermore, evaluation will help identify best practices and lessons learnt that offer valuable insight for making improvements in future aid efforts. Working with local NGOs, CBOs and communities: Community consultation and participation is a key part of environmental management, including working with the national and state governmental authorities. Civil society organisations including Universities, and local NGOs should be consulted, promoted and their capacities enhanced. People in these organisations have invaluable knowledge and skill in the management of the local environment, and will be responsible for building the systems for equitable sustainable management in future. Gender: Throughout the project cycle it is vital to consider gender in relation to access to, and management of natural resources. For example, in the assessment of the water use in a community, it is important to consult both men and women, seeing that they have different roles in the society. Men might have a better knowledge of the use of water for livestock and women often have better knowledge of the amount of water used on a household level. The combined information will give more accurate information on the total need for water for a community. Equally, assessing the need for wood women often have better information on cooking practices, whilst men might have better knowledge of wood used for construction.