Climate Change and the Red Cross Red Crescent

8/14/2019 Climate Change and the Red Cross Red Crescent

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Climate Change

and the

Red Cross Red Crescent

Red Cross/ Red Crescent Climate Centre


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Whats happening?

How does it affect us?

What can we do?

Climate Change and the

Red Cross / Red Crescent


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1. What do we know about climate change?

Contents

Who are the IPCC?

What is the greenhouse effect

The temperature rises: then what?


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The global climate change debate

IPCC (IntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Change)

Science andimpacts

Main findings on climate change

Its already happening

Its going to continue

happening

The rate of change is alarming

Extreme weather more frequently

IPCC Fourth

Assessment

Report, 2007


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The greenhouse effect

Science andimpacts


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Origin and effects of global warming

use of fossil fuels (oil, coal, gas)

rising concentrations of

greenhouse gas

rising temperatures (global warming)

changes in local weatherextremes

changes in local

average climate

Science andimpacts


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Temperature

Since the Industrial Revolution (1860s) the global average temperaturehas risen significantly

Sharp increase in rate of temperature rise since 1970

Science andimpacts


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Temperature

The eleven warmest years on record occurred during the past twelve years

Science andimpacts


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Climate Change

is an unequivocal factand

very likely due to humanactivity


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Temperature

Global temperatures will continue to rise over the next century. Different scenarios show different expectations, between +1.8C and +4.0C

Temperature trends (expected)

-1.0

0.0

+1.0

+2.0

+3.0

+4.0

+5.0

+6.0

1900 2000 2100

globalsurfacewarming(C)

high scenario (A1FI) +4.0C

+1.8Clow scenario (B1)

Science andimpacts


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Climate change willcontinue


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greenhouse gas emissions

Science andimpacts

Whos emitting most? And who is paying the highest price?


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Hazards and human vulnerability

What is changing?

What does it mean for us?

Part 2

Hazards andhuman vulnerability


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Disaster trends

Changing disaster patterns:

geo-physical

hydro-meteorological

epidemics,insect infestations

100

200

300

0

400

90

Source: CRED

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


weather related disasters doubled over the past 2 decades increase small- and medium-scale disasters

more uncertainties


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- higher death toll amongst the elderly and disabled- increasing risk of forest fires


More warm days and more heatwaves


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More intense rainfall

- More floods, landslides

- Pollution of water

- destroyed harvests



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- Too little drinking water- Food security threatened

- Potential impact on conflict and migration


More droughts, more often:


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- higher wind speed and more rainfall


More intense tropical storms:


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Sea level rise


- sea level rise will bring

large coastal areas at risk- salt water intrusion

threatens water supply and

food security

- impacts already being felt

particularly during stormsurge


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Melting ice

reduction in water supplies glacial lake outburst floods

Qori Kalis Glacier, Quelccaya Ice Cap, Peru

1978 2002


H d d


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Health and climate change

- shift of diseases to new areas- increase of water borne diseases after floods

- increase of diseases due to higher temperatures, humidity or drought



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We have to change


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Red Cross respons


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Mitigation and adaptation

mitigation: tackling the causes of climate change adaptation: adjusting and preparing for change

Red Cross responsto climate chang

Red Cross work is a humanitarian organisation, hence

we engage in climate change adaptation

IFRC

Red Cross respons


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RC/RC International Conference Together for Humanity

ed C oss espo sto climate chang

International conference 2007

Geneva, November

2007- RC/ RC

International Conference

Red Cross respons


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Climate risk management

pto climate chang

Early warning > early action

Climate change

increasing risks, trends,more surprises

Seasonal forecastslevel of risk in coming

months Regular forecastsimpending hazard


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Red Cross experiences:

1. Vietnam

Mangrove forests

Red Cross responst li t h


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to climate chang

Early warningand evacuation

training

Hurricane shelters and radioalarm systems for isolatedvillages


2. Nicaragua


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3. Mozambique

Community based vulnerability and capacity assessment



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to climate chang

Managing theincreased risks ofheatwaves in the

Netherlands


4. The Netherlands


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Co-operation with Met office

Building new partnerships

Information campaigns

Dialogue and communication

Understanding climate risks atlocal level

Action Plans!

Preparedness for Climate Change Programme


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Key lessons on climate change adaptation

- Involving local communities

- Integrate climate change risks in regular work/ ongoing programmes

- Foster new partnerships



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Climate Centre

g

A How to Guide for RC work

5 years of experiences compiled in the

Red Cross/ Red Crescent Climate Guide



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Further information

www.climatecentre.org

www.ifrc.org

Documents

Climate Change and the Red Cross Red Crescent