The Green Shift series: Towards Climate-Smart Humanitarian and Development Organizations was developed to strengthen the capacity of humanitarian and development organizations to ensure climate and environmental responsibility. Civil society organizations (CSOs) play a crucial role in addressing climate change, advancing sustainable development, and building a more resilient future. By embracing climate and environmental responsibility, CSOs not only fulfill their mission but also seize an opportunity to increase their impact, sustainability, and relevance in a changing world.

Organizations are increasingly aware of the need for climate and environmental responsibility. They are held accountable by donors and motivated to change, yet many still lack the technical knowledge and skills required. The Green Shift series equips practitioners and their managers with the knowledge, tools, and skills to understand, guide, and transform their organizations into climate-smart institutions.

The series includes five modules:

• The Green Shift Series #1A: Unpacking the climate and environment crisis and the principles of climate justice (this course)
• The Green Shift Series #1B: Identifying climate and environment impacts and taking action 
• The Green Shift Series #2: Developing a climate and environment strategy
• The Green Shift Series #3: Assessing and implementing actions to reduce carbon emissions
• The Green Shift Series #4: Beyond carbon: looking at broader environmental impacts