Preparedness

for

climate change

Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre

Bec McNaught

The Greenhouse Effect

Just like a Greenhouse

that is used to grow

vegetables, gases high in our skies trap the sun’s

heat – keeping the

temperature on Earth just

right

The temperature on Earth

without these gases

would be -19 degrees C!

Extra gases caused by the

burning of fuels trap extra

heat – this is known as

‘global warming’ which causes our climate to

change

Gas

Increases

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How fast is it warming?

•! 2005 was the warmest

year on record

•! 11 out of last 12 years

have been the warmest

recorded

•! Global average

temperature has warmed

0.75C this century

So what happens to a warming world?

•! Changes to where animals

and plants are found

•! Coral becomes bleached or

white which impacts fisheries

•! Ice melts and sea levels slowly

rise causing erosion

•! More weather related

disasters like stronger

droughts, more intense floods,

stronger cyclones

Coral bleaching in Kiribati, Pacific

Disaster trends since 1990

100

200

300

0

geo-

physical

Number of disasters

hydro-

meteorological

400

‘90

Source: CRED

‘91 ‘92 ‘93 ‘94 ‘95 ‘96 ‘97 ‘98 ‘99 ‘00 ‘01 ‘02 ‘03 ‘04 ‘05 ‘06

epidemics,

insect infestations

•! Increased number of weather related disasters means

more response

•! Impacts on food availability

•! Health problems – eg. disasters, diseases such as

Dengue and Malaria can spread, heat stress,

•! Potential to be a factor that fuels conflict and migration

Why does Red Cross/Red Crescent care?

What can the Red Cross /

Red Crescent do???

Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre

•! Established 2002 in the Netherlands by IFRC &

Netherlands RC

•! Action – with IFRC & National Societies

•! Advocacy – at climate change forums

•! Awareness – increasing understanding of climate change

•! Analysis – linking scientists with practitioners

•! Currently implementing Preparedness for Climate Change

Programme in 40 countries & providing technical

assistance to the Movement

•! www.climatecentre.org

Some things the Red Cross/

Red Crescent Movement

does to address climate change

•! Understanding climate change and its impacts

•! Talking and taking action with governments &

communities

•! Improving health and care

•! Being ready and able to respond to disasters

•! Reducing the chances of someone

being impacted by disaster by improving

understanding of disasters & early warnings

Youth involvement in Climate Change in the

Red Cross/Red Crescent

Columbia & Guatemala Red Cross

Drama at Samoa Red Cross

Netherlands Red Cross

Poster Competitions

Pakistan Red Crescent

School Visits – Tuvalu Red Cross

Guatemala Red Cross

Kiribati Red Cross

Involving youth when talking with communities

Encouraging Community Youth Groups to undertake projects

So what can we do?!

Ideas Activity!