Climate change has become a key driver of humanitarian disasters and forced migration. Its impacts are seen globally but the greatest vulnerability is experienced in the cities of the less developed countries. Leading a sustainable life should be considered as an emerging human right but how to mitigate CO2 emissions in humanitarian construction?

In Matti Kuittinen’s dissertation a series of case studies from different countries reveal the carbon footprint and primary energy demand of transitional shelters and reconstruction projects. Novel methods are proposed for setting the benchmark levels of an acceptable carbon footprint in humanitarian construction and for cross-comparing carbon footprint, energy efficiency and construction costs. The findings are summarised into practical recommendations and a low-carbon humanitarian construction project model exemplified through shelter and reconstruction projects in Syria.