Climate change & the role of Red Cross Red Crescent

1. Climate change & the role of Red Cross Red Crescent Photo: Netherlands Red Cross Photo: Nasa Photo: Netherlands Red Cross

2. Increase in weather-related disasters • Globally, weather-related disasters doubled over the past two decades • Climate change will to continue – putting increasing demand on humanitarian organisations like the RC/RC Movement Source: EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database – www.emdat.be, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels (Belgium)

3. Changing patterns in: • Drought • Floods • Food security • Health Photo: Danish Red Cross Photo: Jakob Dall / Danish Red Cross Photo: Olivier Matthys/IFRC

4. The Red Cross Red Crescent commitments At the RCRC International Conference 2007 – ‘Together for Humanity’ • […] commitments were made to address climate change in the following ways: • raise awareness on climate change • provide humanitarian assistance • improve capacity to respond • decrease vulnerability of communities most strongly affected • integrate climate risk management into policies and plans • mobilise human and financial resources, giving priority to actions for the most vulnerable International conference 2007 Geneva, November 2007 RCRC International Conference Photo: IFRC

5. Mitigation: tackling the causes of climate change Adaptation: adjusting and preparing for change Main focus for humanitarian work ‘Mitigation’ and ‘adaptation’ Photo: IFRC Strategy 2020 “Our climate change adaptation work is through scaling up disaster risk reduction measures and strengthening traditional methods of coping with disasters that are relevant in particular environmental contexts” Strategy 2020 “We also contribute to mitigating the progression of climate change through advocacy and social mobilization to promote sustainable community development that optimizes communities’ carbon footprints”

6. The Red Cross Red Crescent is not working on this in isolation International knowledgecentres Research community UNFCCC UN Agencies Donor Community Multilat- eralBanks Hyogo NGOs IPCC

7. Six key areas for the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement • Assess the potential impacts of climate change and the implications for NS mandate and programmes Photo: IFRC Community assessments National Society climate risk assessments Photo: Danish Red Cross

8. Six key areas for the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement 2. Address the consequences - integrate climate change in ongoing activities Disaster Management Health and Care CLIMATE (CHANGE) RISKS Water and Sanitation FoodSecurity

9. Six key areas for the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement • Raise awareness – help people and institutions learn about climate change and its humanitarian consequences Tanzania Red Cross leaflets

10. Six key areas for the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement 4. Establish and enhance partnerships addressing climate change requires partnerships with for example: meteorological office, government agencies and NGOs etc.

11. Six key areas for the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement 5. Advocacy and policy dialogue – at the local, national as well as international level, the RC can influence people/ policies! Photo: Danish Red Cross

12. Six key areas for the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement 6. Document and share experiencesand information Photos: Danish Red Cross

13. Photo: IFRC