Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide
Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide Foreword Acknowledgements
When the International Conference of the Red Cross staff person or volunteer. So instead of providing you The core writing team for this guide consisted of Photography credits and Red Crescent first discussed climate change with answers, we hope to help you to start asking Maarten van Aalst, Madeleen Helmer, Caroline de The Climate Centre is extremely grateful to Reuters in 1999, few were convinced that humanitarian the right questions about how climate risks affect Jong, Fleur Monasso, Elike van Sluis and Pablo for the contribution of many powerful and memorable organizations really needed to worry about it. In those you and how to address them, and then offer some Suarez. Alex Wynter and John Sparrow edited images, which appear courtesy of www.alertnet.org days people considered it an environmental issue; at guidance on how to find the answers yourselves. We the text. most a potential risk for the distant future, a scientific have tried to provide step-by-step approaches that Specific photocredits appear next to all photos, debate. When the Climate Centre was established in can and should be tailored to your circumstances. We also thank: Kanyasorn Tansubhapol for the except for the following: 2002, we realized its humanitarian implications but Indonesia case study, Anita Swarup and Omar thought of climate change primarily as a gradual rise Please read this guide as an account of the first Valdimarsson for the Africa case study, Alex Cover: Top – Reuters/Stringer Shanghai in risks – one we should start preparing for. round of experiences and approaches. We are just Wynter for the Nicaragua case study, Kristie Ebi Bottom – Photo: Paul Rogers/The Times beginning, and many aspects remain to be more fully and Jari Vainio for inputs on the health module, Much has changed since then. Not only is the world addressed: food security, migration and conflicts, Bec McNaught and Niels Scott for comments Page 9: Top – Reuters/Oswaldo Rivas now convinced that climate change is real, but Red the balance between quality and the ability to scale and suggestions, and Mattmo Concept | Design, Bottom – Photo: Reuters/Carlos Barria Cross/Red Crescent staff and volunteers also see it up, and last but not least the consequences for the Amsterdam, for the graphic design. happening before their eyes, hitting the most vulner- mobilization of volunteers. Page 23: Top – Christopher Black/International able people sooner and harder than we had ever We gratefully acknowledge financial support from Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies expected. This guide is primarily written for the Red Cross and the British Red Cross, the International Federation Bottom – Olav Saltbones/Norwegian Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. But as a growing number of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Mattmo There is little discussion of whether climate change of humanitarian and development organizations begin Concept | Design, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Page 41: Top – Reuters/John Kolesidis is an issue of concern to the Red Cross and Red to address the impacts of climate change, we are of Affairs, the Provention Consortium, and the Swiss Bottom – Reuters/Rafiquar Rahman Crescent. Instead it has turned to how we can best course happy to share our experiences and views. Agency for Development and Cooperation. address the humanitarian consequences. Page 55: Top – Reuters/China Daily China Daily There is a lot of work to be done, and fast. Climate Last but not least, we thank all of the participants and Information Corp – CDIC With this Climate Guide for the Red Cross and Red change is with us and is making our humanitarian sponsors of the International Work Conference on Lower – Reuters/Stringer Shanghai Crescent we aim to share the experiences of more work more difficult. Things are expected to get the Humanitarian Consequences of Climate Change, than 40 National Societies who, in the last five years, worse. We will have to be smart and efficient: our aim held in The Hague in June 2007. Their experiences, Page 77: Top – Photo: Reuters/Miguel Vidal have started to address climate change in their work. should be not just to keep up with the changes, but advice and anecdotes are the core of this guide. Bottom – Alex Wynter/International Federation Their experiences are as diverse as our planet’s to stay ahead of them. We look forward to working of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies weather and as wide-ranging as the Red Cross and with all of you in shaping the humanitarian answers Red Crescent Movement itself. Yet many similarities to the climate challenge. Page 91: Top – Reuters/Jason Lee shine through. Climate change is new for all of us. Bottom – Reuters/Ognen Teofilovski We all need an open mind to learn and establish new Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre partnerships. But instead of doing something entirely November 2007 Page 115: Top – Reuters/Stringer Indonesia new and different, we should base our responses on Bottom – Shehab Uddin/British Red Cross what we already do best, integrating the changing risks in our efforts to serve the most vulnerable people.
Rather than only documenting these experiences, this guide also aims to provide advice. Of course we could not tell every single National Society exactly how the risks are changing and what do to about them. We know much less about your countries and the vulnerable groups they contain than any individual Guide to the guide Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide
This guide begins with the basics about climate change: the scientific consensus, the humanitarian 2 Foreword 91 Community risk consequences, and the general implications for the 3 Acknowledgments reduction Red Cross and Red Crescent. 4 Guide to the Guide 98 Community risk reduction: This is followed by six thematic modules: Getting How-to guide 5 Contents started, Dialogues, Communications, Disaster management, Community risk reduction and Health 106 Case Study: Nicaragua and Care. Each module begins with a background 9 Climate Change: section with real-life Red Cross/Red Crescent experi- ences and perspectives, followed by a “how-to” the Basics 115 Health and Care section with specific step-by-step guidance. Further 10 Scientific consensus: the impact of 122 Health Care: How-to guide information, and updates of the information in this climate change on the risk of natural guide, can be found on the Climate Centre website disasters www.climatecentre.org. 128 Glossary 15 Rising disaster impacts 132 Acronyms Some key messages appear frequently across this 17 Addressing the humanitarian guide. This was done on purpose to ensure that 133 Sources consequences: a call to action separate modules can be read as stand-alone 134 Annex: regional impacts reference materials. 18 Six components of good climate risk of climate change management All information from this guide is available on www.climatecentre.org, including updates and links 23 Getting Started to relevant documents and sources of information, checklists, templates and best practice examples. 28 Getting Started: How-to guide
List of boxes 34 Case Study: Indonesia 10 IPCC and the scientific consensus 14 The greenhouse effect 41 Dialogues 16 Reducing greenhouse gases 48 Dialogues: How-to guide 20 What the Climate Centre can do for you 55 Communications 21 Funding for climate risk reduction 62 Communications: How-to guide 50 El Niño and seasonal forecasting
64 What communities need to know 70 Case Study: Africa about climate change
65 Relating weather events to climate 77 Disaster change Management 66 Examples of communication strategies 84 Disaster Management: used by National Societies working on How-to guide climate change Hurricane Dean is visible from a camera on the International Space Station. Photo: Reuters/NASA TV Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide Climate Change: the Basics Climate Change: the Basics | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 11 10 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Climate Change: the Basics
…and it’s here to stay we cut back on fossil-fuel use, climate change is IPCC and the scientific Climate change is here to stay – and will accelerate. bound to continue: the greenhouse gases already This century the temperature increase is likely to emitted stay in the atmosphere for many decades. consensus range from two to four degrees Celsius (see figure 2). We have no choice but to cope with the impacts. This rate of warming is probably without precedent In terms of disasters, we can expect further increases The scientific consensus on climate change is pre- during at least the last 10,000 years. The worst long- in heatwaves, floods, droughts and in the intensity of sented in the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel term effects can still be avoided if we substantially cut tropical cyclones, as well as extremely high sea levels on Climate Change (IPCC), which was established in greenhouse-gas emissions. But however aggressively (see table 1). 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization. The IPCC Figure 1: Observed changes in global average surface temperature (source: IPCC, 2007) engages thousands of the world’s leading experts to review the published literature on climate change. The summaries for policy-makers are approved, line-by-line, by governments. In 2007, the IPCC was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This section summarizes the findings of the IPCC’s most recent (2007) survey, the Fourth Assessment Report (“AR4”), especially of Working Group I, which Climate Change: gives an account of the science of climate change, and Working Group II, which reports on impacts, the Basics adaptation and vulnerability. The full reports are avail- able on www.ipcc.ch. Scientific consensus: the impact of climate change on Rainfall patterns have also changed, including drying in tropical, subtropical and Mediterranean the risk of natural disasters regions, and increases in average rainfall and snow in temperate regions such as North America, north- 9EAR Climate change is already happening ern Europe and central and northern Asia. Even more Climate change is happening now. Global surface worryingly, the frequency and intensity of extreme Figure 2: Warming scenarios for the 21st century (source: IPCC, 2007) temperatures rose by over 0.7 °C during the 20th rainfall and snowfall events have been rising, as well Each colored line represents century – making it the warmest period in at least the as the number of droughts. We have also witnessed ! the likely change in global past 1,300 years. And climate change is accelerating: more heatwaves and more intense hurricanes. !" temperature that would 11 out of the 12 last years (1995–2006) rank among " occur for a specific green- the warmest years since records began (see figure 1). It is very likely caused by human activity TH CENTURY house gas emissions sce- nario (called A2, A1B, etc. It is also clear that these changes are largely caused by the IPCC). The shading …and bringing more extremes by humans. According to the Intergovernmental around it indicates model That 0.7 °C may not seem much. Less, for instance, Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), “most of the warm- uncertainty. The bars on than the temperature difference between day and ing observed since the mid-20th century is very likely the right show the likely temperatures in 2100 for night. So why worry? Well, think of a patient with a due to the observed increase in anthropogenic green- the full set of IPCC emission fever: the slightly higher temperature is only an indica- house gas concentration”. These greenhouse gases scenarios.
tor that much more is awry. In the case of the climate act as a blanket over the earth, keeping it warmer 'LOBAL SURFACE WARMING Ę# it is not so much the average temperature rise that is (see box page 14). They are emitted when we burn The black line with grey alarming. Along with the planet’s rising temperature, fossil fuels such as coal, oil or gas, or when we cut shading represents the ob- served global temperatures known as global warming, glaciers have been down and burn the trees. The current concentrations during the 20th century. melting, increasing the risk of lake-burst floods and of greenhouse gases exceed the natural range that threatening the water supply of millions of people. has existed for over 650,000 years. 9EAR 12 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Climate Change: the Basics A boatman repairs his boat on the dried up riverbed of the Jialing river running along southwest China’s Chongqing municipality. Photo: Reuters/Stringer Shanghai
Table 1: Examples of climate change impacts
Phenomenon Likelihood that Likelihood of Examples of major impacts and direction trend occurred future trend of trend in late 20th century
Over most land Very likely Virtually certain • Increased agricultural yields in colder environments, areas, warmer and decreased yield in warmer environments fewer cold days and • Increased insect outbreaks nights, warmer and • Effects on water resources relying on snow melt more frequent hot • Reduced mortality from cold exposure days and nights • Declining air quality in cities.
Over most land Very likely Very likely • Reduced yields in warmer regions due to heat stress areas, more • Increased risk of bushfire frequent warm • Increased water demand, water-quality problems spells/heatwaves • Increased heat-related mortality, particularly for the elderly, chronically sick, very young and socially isolated.
Over most Likely Very likely • Damage to crops areas, increasing • Soil erosion frequency of heavy • Adverse effects on quality of surface and ground water precipitation • Water scarcity may be relieved • Increased risk of deaths, injuries, and infectious, respiratory and skin diseases • Disruption of settlements, commerce, transport and societies due to flooding • Pressures on urban and rural infrastructure • Loss of property.
Increasing area Likely in many Likely • Land degradation affected by drought regions since 1970s • Lower yields, crop damage • Increased livestock deaths • Increased risk of wildfire • Increased risk of food and water shortage • Increased risk of malnutrition • Increased risk of water- and food-borne diseases • Migration.
Increasing intensity Likely in some Likely • Damage to crops and trees of tropical cyclones regions since 1970s • Power outages causing disruptions of public water supply • Increased risk of deaths, injuries and disease spread through water or food • Post-traumatic stress disorder • Disruption by flood and high winds • Withdrawal by private insurers of risk coverage in vulnerable areas • Migration, loss of property.
Increased incidence Likely Likely • Salinization of irrigation water and freshwater systems, of extremely high and decreased freshwater availability sea levels • Increased risk of deaths and injuries by drowning in floods • Migration-related health effects • Costs of coastal protection versus relocation • Potential for relocation of people and infrastructure • Tropical-cyclone effects.
Source: IPCC 2007 Working Group II, Summary for Policymakers. Climate Change: the Basics | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 15 14 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Climate Change: the Basics
It will hit the poor and the vulnerable Figure 3: Annual number of natural disasters (source: CRED EM-DAT) The greenhouse effect The impacts of climate change will fall disproportion- ately upon developing countries and poor people HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL Solar radiation in all countries – in other words, those who have Long-wave contributed least to greenhouse gas emissions. This EPIDEMICS INSECT INFESTATIONS radiation in turn will exacerbate existing inequities in health status and access to adequate food, clean water GEOPHYSICAL and other resources.
A warmer world can have positive and negative effects. But even small changes will create negative impacts in the most vulnerable areas of the world,
including virtually all developing countries. And the .UMBER OF DISASTERS The figure above illustrates the greenhouse effect. bigger the changes, the more negative the effects The temperature rise caused by greenhouse gases will be all around the globe. in the atmosphere is similar to the warming inside a greenhouse. Radiation from the sun travels through …and threaten human health the atmosphere and warms the earth’s surface. Water scarcity will increase in many areas. In Africa, Part of the incoming energy from the sun leaves our up to 250 million people will suffer water stress by k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k planet in the form of heat (long-wave radiation, or 2020. Food security is bound to be compromised infrared). On its way out through the atmosphere, this as agricultural productivity declines. heat is absorbed by greenhouse gases that act as a blanket over the earth, keeping it warmer. We should Threats to human health include heat stress, injuries …but further climate change is unavoid- almost entirely by an increase in weather-related be grateful for this effect because it makes life on and disease brought by storms, floods and droughts, able, so we have to adapt disasters (see figure 3). For instance, the number of earth possible. Carbon dioxide and methane are two changes in the range of vector-borne diseases, and The international efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas disastrous storms has doubled. Disaster statistics important greenhouse gases. Adding more of these decreases in water quality, air quality and food secu- emissions are crucial to avoid the worst-case also show that floods are occurring not just more gases to the atmosphere enhances the greenhouse rity. Small islands face long-term sea-level rise and scenarios for the end of this century. In the coming often but also damage greater areas than they did effect and thus increases the average temperature at will also be affected by increasing storm surges and few decades however, climate change is bound to two decades ago. And these rises are accompanied the earth’s surface: global warming. cyclones long before they are actually submerged. continue regardless of how well those efforts suc- by a rapid increase in socio-economic losses and Densely populated river deltas in Asia are also par- ceed, simply due to the greenhouse gases we have in the number of people affected: on average 250 Since the end of the industrial revolution, concentra- ticularly vulnerable, as are other coastal areas. already emitted, which stay in the atmosphere for a million people a year, up by more than 30 per cent in tions of carbon dioxide, which is produced by burn- very long time. Therefore, in the short term, we have just a decade. Although since the 1970s, the number ing fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), have risen by International efforts to reduce greenhouse- no choice but to deal with these changes as best of people killed by natural disasters has decreased, over 30 per cent, while methane has approximately gas emissions are underway as we can – “adaptation”. In practice, this will work largely due to better disaster preparedness, in the doubled. Carbon dioxide molecules can live around Long-term climate change and its impacts can be best if strategies to reduce climate-related risks are past years, that decrease has been tapering off and 100 years in the atmosphere, and they now stand lessened by reducing emissions of greenhouse integrated in ongoing development and disaster risk even reversing. at a concentration of about 385 parts per million gases. In 1992, the UN Framework Convention reduction.This comprehensive approach to manage (ppm), as compared to a pre-industrial concentration on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established to the rising risks is called “climate risk management”. Specific examples of recent disasters that clearly fit of about 280 ppm. The current concentration of reduce global warming and to cope with inevitable the trend of rising risks due to climate change are: carbon dioxide is at least a quarter higher than at temperature increases. As scientific evidence for the European heatwave of 2003, which killed over any other time during the past 650,000 years. If we climate change grew stronger during the 1990s, Rising disaster impacts 35,000 people; the devastating 2005 Atlantic hur- carry on burning fossil fuel in a “business as usual” parties to the UNFCCC signed the Kyoto Protocol ricane season, including Katrina, the costliest disaster way, carbon dioxide concentrations will rise to 600 in 1997, which includes mandatory reductions of ever with US$ 125 billion in damages, and Wilma, the or 700 ppm by the year 2100. Even if the whole greenhouse-gas emissions for developed countries. In the past years, there has been a large rise in the most powerful Atlantic storm ever recorded; the mas- world worked very hard to limit emissions, carbon Some key countries, such as the US and Australia, number of disasters (from between 200 and 250 in sive flooding during the Asian monsoon of 2007; and dioxide concentrations are unlikely to stabilize below have not ratified it. Negotiations on a new protocol the period 1987–97 to about double that in the first floods following droughts in various parts of Africa, 450 ppm. began in 2007, to be concluded by 2009. seven years of the 21st century). This rise is caused devastating the livelihoods of millions of people. Climate Change: the Basics | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 17 16 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Climate Change: the Basics
But we are not just seeing an increase in mega- global emissions, for instance by promoting energy Reducing Greenhouse disasters – there is also an increase in smaller ones efficiency in their offices, and compensating for the that do not capture the attention of the world’s emissions in their operations (see box on page 16). Gases media, but do have tremendous impacts on lives and livelihoods, particularly of the most vulnerable people. But regardless of how the world manages to tackle The Red Cross and Red Crescent and other In some high-income countries energy companies Importantly, those who depend on nature for their that long-term challenge, substantial changes are humanitarian organizations are in the front line of enable consumers to buy green energy from renew- livelihoods are increasingly unable to figure out what already with us, and further rises in risk unavoidable, climate change impacts. able sources like biofuel, solar power, hydroelectricity to expect and what decisions to make, for example at the very least for several decades to come. And and wind turbines. when or what to plant, particularly given changes in as the global climate is changing, the Red Cross/ If we are concerned about climate change and we the timing and intensity of rainfall. Red Crescent Movement needs to change as well. know it is very likely to be caused by human actions, 3. Compensate for your emissions Climate change directly affects the Red Cross and what should we do ourselves to address the root Full carbon neutrality in which our activities do not This rise in losses and people affected reflects a Red Crescent’s core mandate: assistance to the most cause of the problem? This question is raised by add any greenhouse gas to the atmosphere at all is growing vulnerability to natural hazards, and in par- vulnerable. Inaction is not an option: either we address more and more National Societies. unlikely in the near future. So in addition to saving ticular to hazards related to weather and climate such the rising risks, or we fail to address our own mandate. energy or using renewable energy sources we can as floods and droughts, which dominate the disaster 1. Save energy compensate for emissions. statistics. This growing vulnerability is intimately tied From human resources planning and training to There is a growing number of organizations and to development patterns: unsound environmental programme design and implementation, our work will companies around the world who can advise on how For example, if you have a return flight to Geneva you practices, population growth, urbanization, social need to integrate new challenges and opportunities. to reduce National Societies’ use of energy in offices can calculate how much greenhouse gas this emits. injustice, poverty, and economic short-sightedness From strategic planners in Geneva headquarters to and vehicles. You can then compensate for these emissions by are producing vulnerable societies. And there is the volunteers in flood-prone villages, everybody will need paying a specialist organization to plant trees or run risk that disasters themselves trap people in vicious to be aware that we are facing new risks, and will Often very simple technological measures like turning renewable-energy projects. circles: the most vulnerable become even more have to plan and act accordingly. down heating or air-conditioning can save a lot of vulnerable to new disasters. energy. In the Red Cross and Red Crescent ideas are The main question is not if but how to address emerging on how risk-reduction programmes, like The rising vulnerability is compounded by the trends the risks of climate change. While some impacts Better use and better maintenance of vehicles is also planting trees against landslides and desertification in extreme events and additional uncertainties can already be seen, or projected fairly accurately, an energy saver. or (in Vietnam, for example) mangroves against storm associated with climate change. This makes the chal- many others will appear as surprises, or only be- surges, can benefit from such schemes. lenge of managing the rising risks and reducing our come apparent once climate change progresses. An energy-conscious attitude by Red Cross/ vulnerability more difficult, but also even more urgent. Climate change thus not only raises the risks but Red Crescent staff and volunteers can be encour- 4. What comes first? A changing climate means more work for humanitar- also increases the uncertainties. A country may be aged. You can show how much energy and money In some National Societies there have been ian organizations. hit by a once-in-a-century flood this year and by a have been saved after a certain period and reward discussions about whether the Red Cross and Red heatwave or drought the next. And it may face more staff. Competitions for the best energy-saving idea Crescent should address climate change without complex disasters, compounded by poverty, disease are another way of stimulating engagement. putting our own house in order on energy use. Addressing the or conflict. However, the Climate Centre strongly feels that our humanitarian consequences: Energy-saving measures do not only apply at national primary responsibility is to help vulnerable people However, surprises are not something the Red Cross and local level but also internationally. We will need to deal with rising climate risks. Assisting them is our a call to action and Red Crescent cannot handle. In fact, they fit look more closely at the energy costs of international core mandate, and if we fail to do that we fail as an our core mandate: to assist the most vulnerable meetings and travel and see whether there are good organization. We don’t hold planes on the ground or Unless mankind manages to curtail emissions of in any situation. Addressing the rising risks is not substitutes like teleconferencing. keep trucks in our warehouses after an emergency greenhouse gases, the long-term consequences of something new – we just need to integrate the notion because they emit greenhouse gases. climate change will be nothing short of catastrophic, of changing risks into everything we do, aware that 2. Use green energy with annual economic losses up to 20 per cent of the range of extreme events may be growing. We After reducing your overall energy use you might Then again, the Red Cross and Red Crescent, and the world economy and humanitarian consequences must enhance our ability to respond and help people want to have a look at your main energy source. particularly National Societies in rich countries, can on a much larger scale than the increase in disasters to reduce their vulnerability. This guide contains many Are there renewable energy sources available that and should join the global challenge to reduce the we are currently witnessing. The Red Cross and examples of National Societies already doing so. don’t emit greenhouse gases? emissions of greenhouse gases. Red Crescent, and particularly National Societies in The following section summarizes the key elements developed countries, can do their share in limiting of their approach. 18 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Climate Change: the Basics People paddle a raft down a flooded street in Sirajganj town, Bangladesh. Photo: Reuters/Rafiquar Rahman
Six components of good • Food Security climate risk management: Climate change is a major threat to food security, particularly in Africa, and will need to be addressed in There are many things National Societies can do to food-security programmes, both through enhanced address the humanitarian consequences of climate relief and better prevention. Few National Societies change, individually and through the International have explicitly integrated climate change into their Federation. The following six items summarize the food-security programmes. Over time, the Climate key components of such climate risk management: Centre will be developing additional guidance in this area. I Climate risk assessment: assessing priorities, and planning follow-up • Water and Sanitation (Watsan) National Societies should start taking account of Many National Societies are addressing water and the rising risks in strategies and programme design, sanitation issues, which are closely coupled to our prioritization of activities and allocation of resources. priorities to promote better health and care. It is clear The first step is to designate a focal point, and make that climate change will have a major impact on a preliminary assessment of the potential impacts of water in many countries, and these changes will need climate change and the implications for their mandate to be factored into the design of Watsan programmes and programmes. The module Getting Started helps and infrastructure. Few National Societies have National Societies take the first steps doing this. explicitly integrated climate change into their Watsan programmes. Over time, the Climate Centre will be II Addressing the consequences: developing additional guidance in this area. integrating climate change in programmes and activities • Migration and con!ict The core response should be to integrate the notion Climate change is almost never the only reason of the rising risks into the programme areas that are people move, so it is important not to oversimplify the most affected: connections between climate, migration and conflict. However, climate change can indeed aggravate • Disaster Management pressure on scarce resources, threaten livelihoods First and foremost, climate change will bring more and trigger migration due to extreme events. More and different disasters, affecting all aspects of disas- research is expected in this area, and the Climate ter management, ranging from an increase in relief Centre will be developing additional guidance. operations to a need for more and better disaster risk reduction (see the module Disaster Management). New funding for climate change may help to facilitate integration of climate risk management into • Community risk reduction Red Cross/Red Crescent programmes (see box on In particular, National Societies need to step up page 21). efforts to help communities address the rising risks, through community based risk reduction, using tools III Raising awareness such as Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments One important role of the Red Cross and Red (see the module Community risk reduction). Crescent is to help people and institutions learn about climate change and its humanitarian conse- • Health and Care quences, both through community-based activities Changing disease patterns will require adjustments and public-awareness campaigns. The module on in programmes to address health risks and promote Communications helps National Societies to think health and care at the community level (see the through what and how they want to communicate module Health and Care). about climate change. Climate Change: the Basics | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 21 20 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Climate Change: the Basics
IV Establishing and enhancing partnerships Addressing climate change cannot be done in isola- What the Climate Centre Funding for climate risk tion. Risk assessments require inputs from climate experts (for instance, from the national meteorological can do for you reduction office). Risk reduction often requires partnerships with governments, other NGOs, businesses, and others. The Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre is a Developing countries One specific area that is given a high priority by National Societies’ local reach puts them in a strong reference centre of the International Federation. It is widely acknowledged that climate change is a many industrialized countries is public awareness- position to help bridge the gaps between national Established in 2002 and based at the Netherlands reality and that developing countries will be hit worst. raising about climate change. The Red Cross and and local stakeholders. The module Dialogues helps Red Cross headquarters in The Hague, it helps the Funding mechanisms are appearing to meet this Red Crescent could become more engaged in this National Societies to build a network to knowledge Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to under- challenge and can be expected to continue. process by highlighting the humanitarian conse- centres, government agencies, and other actors. stand and address the humanitarian consequences quences of climate change. of climate change. The Climate Centre assists Some existing channels of funding now favour pro- V International advocacy: shaping the National Societies and the International Federation gramme proposals that integrate climate risk reduc- As scientific evidence grows and public and political global response to climate change through: tion. One example is the DIPECHO programme of the pressure to act mounts, there will be more and more At the international level, the Red Cross and Red European Commission (2006–7). If climate change funding to address the rising risks. It is vital that the Crescent has to advocate for the most vulnerable • Guidance on how to integrate climate change into is explicitly addressed, the proposed programme is Red Cross and Red Crescent is engaged: to shape people, and ensure that they are included in the planning and programmes more likely to be funded. funding policies so that they really address the global response to climate change. As the world’s • Answers to specific questions during programme needs of the most vulnerable; to balance funding largest humanitarian network, the International implementation In addition, bilateral and multilateral donors are for adaptation in high-income countries and for Federation is uniquely placed to relate the humanitar- • Regular updates on climate-related news, policy developing special channels for climate risk reduction the poorest countries; and to manage rising risk ian consequences of climate change to the wider and science (or “adaptation”) which could also be accessed by using our ability to address the needs of the most arena of international humanitarian, development and • Exchange of experiences and documentation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. For example, the vulnerable. climate policy, including through the UNFCCC. We best practice European Commission has announced the intention also have a responsibility to call on all governments • Training and capacity building on climate risk to establish a Global Climate Change Alliance with The Climate Centre is actively following the global to address the problem driving climate change – the management a fund of €50 million to start with. Several bilateral debates on funding for adaptation, particularly for emission of greenhouse gases. • Fostering a climate change network within the donor agencies have also earmarked money for developing countries and integration with bilateral Red Cross and Red Crescent adaptation. and multilateral development assistance. National VI Documenting and sharing experiences • Connections to relevant knowledge centres, Societies should not hesitate to contact us for and information NGOs and government contacts At the global level, the UN Climate Change advice and help: www.climatecentre.org. We are only starting to address the rising risks, and • Assistance with communication and media Convention and its Kyoto Protocol have spawned there is much to learn. This guide is an initial attempt strategies several funds for adaptation, including the Least to learn from experience and distill guidance. National • Support for the development and use of Developed Countries Fund, the Special Climate Societies should analyse and document their experi- participatory audio-visual tools in climate-related Change Fund and the Adaptation Fund. The ences, in order to refine their own response to the programmes procedures for accessing these funds are complex changing risks, but also to share them with others, • Advice on attracting (new) financial resources for but still evolving. Additionally, many other donors are within and beyond the Red Cross and Red Crescent. climate risk reduction increasingly supporting climate change work among • Development of Red Cross/Red Crescent vulnerable communities (including foundations, the policies and positions related to climate change, private sector, and research bodies). and advocacy. High-income countries Our support is aimed especially at National Societies A growing number of industrialized countries are in developing countries that are most vulnerable to beginning to address climate change risks at the the impacts of climate change. We also help National national level: some countries are already investing Societies in wealthy countries to assess their own tens of millions of dollars and reserving billions. Few programmes and to mobilize resources to support National Societies are engaged in these processes. societies in the developing world. Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide Getting Started Getting Started | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 25 24 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Getting Started
In less wealthy ones climate change impacts are and factored into their programmes, especially those The solutions may lie in early-warning systems, creating new complex emergencies. involving risk reduction. storm-resistant housing, or in alternative crops that can thrive in soils turned saline by the seepage of ris- The rapid succession of drought-flood-drought is Now is the time to start supporting communities as ing sea levels or coastal floods. Or in commonplace causing enduring disaster in parts of Africa. The they begin to prepare for these new threats but the measures: educating children on how to behave in irregularity of seasons is hurting farmers on every question often is: where do we begin? This module’s emergencies, evacuation plans, action teams, escape continent. Asia’s rural poor get poorer and poorer How-to section aims to help National Societies get routes, disaster calendars, planting trees on hills and as floods become fiercer and more frequent. The started. shorelines against landslides and surges. Pacific’s rising sea level threatens the existence of some countries whose fishermen and farmers already Indeed, many good strategies for climate change struggle amid the – partly climate-related – destruc- Understanding the implications adaptation are indistinguishable from conventional tion of their environment. Rising temperatures are risk management: if you take a photo of a flood resulting in malaria outbreaks at higher and higher shelter, you can’t tell whether the building is for altitudes. The poor, the elderly and the disabled are Climate change changes everything. The latest report conventional disaster preparedness or for adaptation bearing the brunt of these changes in climate risks. from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to climate change. The important difference is not confirms our worst fears – that vulnerable groups are so much in the outputs of Red Cross/Red Crescent The causes of climate change have the world’s at greatest risk when it comes to climate change. work, but rather in the process. With changing risks, attention and many organizations campaign on the we have to rethink what can go wrong, and whether reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions. Hardly It is time for the entire international community to or not to do something about it. Communities can be anyone, however, is dealing seriously with the impact understand and accept that traditional ways of better prepared and more resilient, particularly when Getting Started on vulnerable people, with the humanitarian conse- thinking about disaster response no longer apply. governments and aid agencies work together. quences of the problem. Experts expect that there will be more and more floods, droughts and heatwaves, making it harder for As risks related to climate change increase so does The global climate is changing, and vulnerable com- People in developing countries, and particularly poor people to pick up the pieces and stretching the the urgency of implementing disaster risk-reduction munities around the world are feeling the change. the poorest, do not possess the means to fend off resources of aid agencies further and further. approaches we already have. But information about Scientists tell us with great confidence that rainfall, floods, droughts and other catastrophes. Making the way the risks are rising may need to be factored temperatures and winds will continue to surprise us, matters worse, livelihoods are often climate sensitive That does not mean that we need new programmes. into the responses, given that some traditional solu- often in negative ways. What should the Red Cross such as in agriculture where changes in climate Preparing for, reducing the risk of, and responding tions may no longer work. and Red Crescent Movement prepare for? patterns are even undermining traditional knowledge. to natural hazards is what the Red Cross and Red On some Pacific islands, like the Solomons, seasonal Crescent already does. The new reality requires only Ground-breaking work by the Samoa Red Cross has The what-if scenarios of climate change preoccupy winds have always determined when crops are that climate change be mainstreamed into disaster shown that adapting to climate change in the Pacific journalists, academics and politicians. What if the planted. Today they are no longer reliable, causing management, health and care, as well as other is not just about building expensive sea walls. There polar ice caps continue to melt at the present rate? new and growing challenges. weather-sensitive areas of work (such as food secu- are many low-cost options a National Society can What if the oceans rise a metre and a half by the end rity or water and sanitation). Dealing with new threats, assist with. It now ensures the voices of vulnerable of the century? What if greenhouse gases cannot be Islanders wonder what is happening. George preparing for the unpredictable, is what is called for. people are heard and practical risk-reduction steps contained by 2020? Baragamu of the Solomon Islands Red Cross says, are taken. “Climate change is something new for many of them. Given the international community’s belated acknowl- What-if is not a scenario the Red Cross and Red They have heard about it, of course, but they don’t edgement that climate change is real, there is a dan- The process begins with internal communication, Crescent finds useful. National Societies are paying have a deep understanding”. ger of moving from denial to despair. But something convincing boards if necessary, reassessing priori- full attention to what-is, and what will get worse before can always be done to protect vulnerable people. ties, rethinking strategies adn approaches. Climate it gets better. Like the deaths from a heatwave that The need to understand what is happening, and the change is a social and economic issue that cuts right in 2006 hit safe and affluent France with one of th e empowerment that such knowledge can bring has Natural hazards need not lead to calamity. Floods across core areas of Red Cross/Red Crescent inter- world’s top ten natural disasters, just three years after persuaded his National Society, along with a growing only become disasters when they disrupt a com- est. Or as Secretary General Tautala Mauala has put an even worse heatwave killed thousands of people. number around the world, to begin the Red Cross/ munity’s normal functioning. Risk-reduction measures it in plainer language, it directly affects her society’s Red Crescent Preparedness for Climate Change minimize the odds of that occurring and help com- endeavours to protect vulnerable people. “The Climate change is here and now and even rich programme. They know the most effective way to munities bounce back. Red Cross has a responsibility to work on climate countries are suffering from extreme weather events. deal with the rising risks is to have them recognized change,” she says. Getting Started | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 27 26 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Getting Started
One of the most practical steps the Red Cross has The risk to already vulnerable people in the taken has allowed it to leap the language barrier. Philippines is particularly high on the agenda. Nearly every village in Samoa has a different term for north, south, east and west, making it somewhat Our challenge as members of the Red Cross and problematic to issue early warnings or direct people Red Crescent Movement is to integrate available to shelters when an emergency approaches. knowledge about climate change into our humanitar- ian work. This task requires some learning and a So the National Society now assists with the inter- lot of new thinking. The kind of work we do will be pretation of meteorological information and weather fundamentally the same, but some new action is warnings. A better example of how the Red Cross needed. “Climate change is can help communities take low or no-cost measures towards being better prepared would be extremely something new for hard to find. many of the islanders” GEORGE BARAGAMU, SOLOMON ISLANDS Assessing the risks of climate change
By getting started on climate change, National Societies find gaps and opportunities, additional arguments for proactive disaster risk reduction and possibly the chance of new funding. To get the Samoa Red Cross started Maka Sapolu, the society’s climate change and disaster- The Philippine Red Cross was one of those that got preparedness officer, led workshops with staff and started in 2007. Successive typhoons and other volunteers on Samoa’s two main islands. They dis- disasters have left alarm bells ringing in the nation’s cussed what climate change was, what that meant collective consciousness. An unprecedented five for their people, and how the Red Cross could assist super typhoons swept the archipelago in as many in addressing it. months in 2006, leaving more than 2,000 people dead or missing. Another 1,100 died when monsoon Then they sat down with community leaders and rains triggered landslides that buried entire villages. government to see how climate change could be integrated into disaster management. The process The growing force and frequency of natural hazards brought new contacts with the Departments of prompted the National Society to consult the Meteorology, Environment and Health, the National Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre and the Disaster Management Office, the Water Authority and International Federation’s regional delegation on NGOs. facing the implications. An internal workshop that also involved Manila’s own climate change centre Common concerns were soon found, growing water followed, where the relevance of climate change to shortages among them. Samoa holds some of the existing Red Cross programmes was discussed and oldest weather records in the Pacific and they show priorities considered. a steady increase in temperature and a decrease in rainfall. Community talks confirmed that scarcity of The need for an analysis of high-risk areas became water had become a major issue, and government clear and the National Society is assessing the departments have made it a key priority in their threats and coordinating action with agencies and national adaptation programme. groups who share their concerns and philosophy. 28 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Getting Started: How-to guide Volunteer Sandra Roxana Flores watches children drinking clean water from one of the taps of Colonia Mitch in Guatemala, built for victims of the flooding caused by its namesake, Hurricane Mitch. Photo: Marko Kokic/International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Getting Started How-to guide
Although a growing number of on Red Cross/Red Crescent climate focal points, for instance national Red Cross/Red Crescent responsibilities, and you know one for health and one for societies recognize the need to how the weather is affecting disaster management. The focal integrate climate change into your country. If the weather is point may also organize a small their work, it’s not always clear changing, you must be the one climate working group for advice where to begin. to understand what that means and feedback. This section aims to help National for your work. Societies to get started: what Step 3: should the first steps be in Step 2: Analysis and assessment coming to terms with the rising Designate a focal point. of priorities. risks of climate change and the If you decide climate change The next step is to prepare a implications for the work of the requires further attention, it is national climate risk assessment. National Society? helpful to appoint a climate This should contain a broad change focal point within the analysis of the implications of Step by step: National Society. This person will climate change for the country where to begin follow up on the outcomes of the and the National Society. workshop, particularly by: Look more deeply into available Step 1: • Building a network on climate information about the risks, both A first orientation. change – such as with depart- in the country and the region, Organize a workshop with staff at ments of meteorology, environ- and face up to what it tells national headquarters about the ment and health, the national you. This national climate risk potential risks of climate change disaster management office, assessment could be distributed for your country and how these water authority and NGOs – to to key National Society staff. risks might affect the National gather information on climate In addition, you can prepare a Society’s mission and pro- change science and policy and briefer and simpler version for grammes. One or two national seek attention for the impact on wider distribution to volunteers climate change experts can be the most vulnerable people. and field staff invited to make a presentation. • Staying up-to-date with relevant information and aware of meet- Prioritize the climate change risks After this workshop, you will have ings happening in the country. that should be addressed first, a first impression of what the • Liaising with the Red Cross/Red or the programmes that are most threats may mean. Some people Crescent Climate Centre and the vulnerable to them. The National may find that the presentations regional network of colleagues Society may become more aware are very scientific and compli- working on climate change. of certain aspects because of cated, or relate only to the very • On the basis of those the risk analyses. For example, long-term. Don’t be intimidated networks, information, and analy- in mountainous areas the risk of by scientific perspectives, and ses, raising awareness within the heavier rains may increase the don’t expect them to provide organization on how risks may risks of flash floods. Red Cross/ you with clear-cut answers. be changing. Red Crescent branches in these Instead, keep asking the experts, regions may be prioritized for and yourselves, about the In some bigger National awareness and disaster prepar- implications. You are the expert Societies, there may be several edness programmes. 30 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Getting Started: How-to guide An elderly woman examines her destroyed house after Typhoon Durian hit the Philippines. Photo Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
Or the National Society may Pitfalls prioritize investments in a bet- Climate change is an over- ter early warning system and whelming problem, so don’t get more intense contacts with overwhelmed. Start with issues the meteorological services for that are of direct relevance timely indications that extreme to your National Society. For weather is on the way. Or the instance, better networking with mobilization of new volunteers your meteorological office and may be re-energized because improved early warning is always of the increasing risks of climate good. Volunteer mobilization to change. take care of the elderly because they are vulnerable to heatwaves Step 4: is another example. Even if the Act! heatwave does not occur it is a From here on, climate change good intervention. And raising should be addressed through the awareness of local communi- regular programmes, integrated ties about the surprises climate into the National Society’s work change may bring is always on disaster management, health helpful. and so on, as well as into advo- cacy and outreach. The following Opportunities modules of this guide address Climate change can be each of these topics separately. perceived as abstract and long- term. An extreme weather event Importantly, at this stage climate (not necessarily a disaster) may change should no longer be an act as a catalyst for increased issue in isolation. The climate awareness and action. Use it. change focal point will have been particularly successful if he or she Further information can now start doing less, and All information from this guide is regular staff in National Society available on www.climatecentre. departments start taking over. org, including updates and links to relevant documents and Checklist sources of information, check- • Organise a workshop about lists, templates and best practice climate change. examples. • Appoint a climate change focal point. • Make an analysis of climate risks for the country and how they relate to Red Cross or Red Crescent priorities and programmes. • Prioritize the first actions the National Society wants to take to address the risks of climate change. • Act! People look at damage caused by a landslide in the city of Chanchamayo in Junin, Peru. Photo: Reuters/Ho New Case Study: Indonesia | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 35 34 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Case Study: Indonesia
To address global warming strong commitment and rainy season,” said Arifin Muh Hadi, PMI’s Head of action plans are needed. The challenge facing the Disaster Management. “The February flood can prob- International Federation, the Indonesian Red Cross ably be seen as a climate change impact because (PMI) and other stakeholders is the integration of ad- these previously unusual occurrences are becoming aptation measures with existing efforts in disaster risk more commonplace.” reduction and health and care programmes. At-risk communities should be prioritized for preparedness and prevention. Adapting to climate change and do- Flood risks tripling ing something about it at community level can both address current concerns and reduce vulnerabilities to future risk. Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, and its 12 million inhabitants experienced severe floods following torrential rains in February 2007. Rivers and streams Costs of disaster burst their banks and some areas were inundated with heavily polluted water to a depth of four metres. Thousands of houses, buildings and roads were Indonesia has a dry season with an east monsoon submerged. Telephone lines and electricity networks (June–September) and a rainy season with a west were cut off in some parts of the city. Floodwaters monsoon (December–March). Temperatures remain blocked major roads and paralysed transportation. high throughout the year and there is very little differ- People were trapped on roofs while evacuations Case Study: Indonesia ence from month to month. and distribution of relief items were hampered by the limited number of available rubber boats. This It is one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, event caused multiple health problems, including Disaster is never far from the people of Increased temperatures, shortened rainy seasons, regularly beset by droughts, epidemics, floods, an outbreak of dengue fever. Indonesia. An archipelago of 17,000 intensified rainfall and prolonged droughts and floods earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, tsunami islands, Indonesia has over the past decade could bring serious food security and health threats waves and wildfires. According to the Centre for Although Jakarta is hit by floods in five-yearly cycles, experienced increasingly frequent natural and endanger the habitats and livelihoods of coastal Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), these were the worst in 30 years, according to disasters, from severe floods and droughts communities. there have been over 100 major floods in the last eyewitnesses, and analyses by climate scientists to tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic century, 85 earthquakes and 46 volcanic eruptions. from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute These are some of the conclusions of a report from suggest worse to come. The risk of flooding on eruptions. Government statistics show it the consulting arm of leading Indonesian research These disasters, particularly floods, have serious February’s scale may already be 20 per cent higher has averaged as much as 2.7 disasters a institute Pelangi Indonesia, sponsored by the World economic consequences. Floods that covered a wide than 30 years ago due to global warning, they say, day over a 12-month period. Bank and Britain’s Department for International area of West Java and Banten in February 2007 left and may well continue to rise, tripling over the course Global warming is already taking its toll Development. It followed a warning from Indonesia’s almost half a million people homeless or displaced. of this century. and far worse is on the horizon. For Palang Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar that the Commerce and telecommunications systems were country could lose as many as 2,000 small islands by disrupted for several weeks, causing economic dam- “I don’t remember we ever had floods like this before” Merah Indonesia (PMI), the Indonesian 2030 due to a rise in sea levels. age totalling as much as $US 1 billion. The water rose so quickly to four metres, reaching Red Cross, the integration of climate our second floor. We had to move out,” said Red change into its community-based disaster Pelangi Indonesia, an independent body that advises CRED’s 2006 Annual Disaster Statistic Review put Cross volunteer Deasy Sujatiningrani, 25, a resident preparedness and risk reduction pro- the ministry, is blunt. Climate change phenomena Indonesia top of the regional list of disaster-affected in the Tangerang district of West Jakarta. “With the grammes is proceeding with urgency: to will affect millions of Indonesians, if not by displacing countries. The data also show that there was a major previous floods in 2002, city dwellers could still com- confront today’s challenges and reduce them directly then by eliminating the industrial or increase in the frequency of floods which accounted mute. But the recent floods were very unusual”. tomorrow’s vulnerabilities. agricultural zones or fisheries upon which their liveli- for 59 per cent of all disasters that year. Rawa Buaya community in Cenkareng, West Jakarta, hoods and welfare depend. Flood control and sewer- was another hard-hit area. This slum area, home for Indonesia is increasingly vulnerable to the impact age systems will be overwhelmed, leading to more “In recent years, rainfall patterns in Indonesia have some 2,000 impoverished residents, was inundated of climate change. Global warming threatens to waterborne diseases, and disruption of commercial been changing and unpredictable. Sometimes it rains by water from the nearby Cikamangi River that raise sea levels and flood coastal farming areas. and transport networks. in the dry season and other times it is very hot in the poured into the congested streets. Case Study: Indonesia | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 37 36 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Case Study: Indonesia
Most of Rawa Buaya’s residents come from the Achmad Djaelani, of the PMI’s Disaster Management families, living in areas vulnerable to natural disasters. the flow of rivers into the lake and also cause the provinces. Ponira, a 40-year-old housewife, has been Information System noted, “The programme was Wajo frequently experiences floods, fires, typhoons, riverbeds to silt up. During floods they are swept into here for years with her 16-year-old son, Ahmad, and established in Jakarta as a result of climate change landslides, and shipwrecks. The most recent disaster huge masses and can damage houses when carried her husband, Mustakin, who works at a construction phenomena like last February’s floods.” was heavy floods in July which affected over 8,000. along by the torrent. site in Jakarta. This year the 400-household village of Laelo was The PMI national board has made climate change flooded for over four weeks. “Most Laelo villagers have little knowledge that the The floodwater reached halfway up the front door of one of its continuing priorities. It was the theme for flooding results from chronic environmental problems her house. “We didn’t move out. We just stayed on World Red Cross Red Crescent Day in 2007 and “Floods are a common problem here,” said Abu in the area,” said PMI’s Irawan Kharie. “And they the second floor,” said Ponirah. When asked what the for discussions at the organisation’s annual general Bakar Fattah, 61. “The local government has a policy don’t understand what ‘climate change’ is really cause of the flooding was in this area, Ponirah was meeting. to relocate us to other areas which are safer, but we about.” reluctant to answer. She then laughed shyly, saying: don’t want to move. This land belongs to our ances- “It’s probably because of our children. They always “So far we have trained volunteers from selected tors and we don’t know how to earn our living if we Previously, there was a lack of awareness about throw garbage into the river.” PMI chapters and branches,” said Bevita Dwi are not fishing.” environmental protection, especially related to the Meidityawati, PMI Community-Based Disaster growth of settlements along the rivers and a reduced According to PMI’s Arifin Muh Hadi many city dwell- Preparedness Coordinator. “It’s just starting, but we Muhamad Idris, 42, does not want to leave either. water catchment area. The local government still ers remain confused. But since the Red Cross started believe our volunteers will be able to help promote During the floods he could still go fishing, although focused its disaster management on relief, response its integrated community-based risk reduction/ public awareness through our continuing efforts in he earned less. “Since fishing doesn’t always give and development activities. It paid little attention climate change programme the public has become community-based activities.” enough income for us to survive, we must look for to getting the community to respond to disasters, more aware of such issues as garbage collection, sideline jobs. I sometimes work at a construction site resulting in a lack of skilled and competent disaster cleaning drains and other disaster preparedness and The Federation’s Indonesia delegation cooperates in town.” response personnel. health-related concerns. with Pelangi Indonesia, and the research institute has assisted PMI to be a resource agency on PMI has been working with the Danish Red Cross to After the CBDP programme came to Wajo, the risk of climate change and energy issues at various training implement a community-based disaster prepared- damage by water hyacinths was reduced by building PMI and climate change sessions. ness (CBDP) programme, aiming to improve disaster a barrier of concrete poles to prevent the plants from preparedness to reduce risks from natural hazard, hitting houses. A group of selected local villagers “People really need to be convinced that climate and to build capacity of the local communities to were also trained as members of PMI’s community- PMI, the Netherlands Red Cross through the Red changes are already happening and affecting the way deal with disasters.Typical issues addressed are the based action team. New infrastructure, equipment Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre, and the we live, be it rising sea level, flooding or droughts,” provision of clean drinking water; the prevention of and facilities and health-care improvements were International Federation began work on a joint said Nugroho Nurdikiawan of Pelangi Indonesia’s in- flooding, landslides, erosion, coastal abrasion; and introduced: towers for clean drinking water in the integrated programme in 2005, supported later by formation and communication department. “We need the construction of earthquake-resistant houses. villages, the provision of information and 24-hour the German Red Cross. PMI then became part of an evidence but the problem in Indonesia is that there is health centres. Indonesian climate change network comprising the not enough data or research on such issues.” More For Lars Moller, Danish Red Cross coordinator for Ministry of Environment and its Climate Change Focal research was required to support advocacy, he said. CBDP programmes in Sulawesi, the integration of “Though the CBDP programme here was not directly Point, the national meteorological office, Pelangi climate change issues in the programme’s next stage involved with climate change in the beginning, there Indonesia, the United States Agency for International is a natural progression. are components of climate change issues that PMI Development, Bogor Agricultural University and other Integrating climate change integrated into its preparedness, prevention and agencies. “When Danish Red Cross planned and implemented response action plans,” said Arifin Muh Hadi. its community-based disaster preparedness pro- The programme is based at PMI’s East and West Wajo district is one of the most disaster-prone areas gramme in South Sulawesi five years ago, the climate “There is no single climate change standard, but Jakarta branches, focusing on Kampung Malayu in South Sulawesi. It contains Tempe Lake, the change issue wasn’t really integrated. But as climate it should be mainstreamed or integrated into each sub-district in the east city and Rawa Buaya in the biggest lake in the region. Nine rivers feed into it, change has started to have an influence we will ad- specific programme,” he continued. “For example, west. The selection of these branches hinged on the but there is only one exit, which is often blocked by just in the next stage to better serve the community a disaster management or health programme should risk of extreme weather events and projected climate fishing nets. The local population uses the river for and the local people.” have climate change elements as part of its plan. change impacts; poverty issues; capacity and com- drinking water, as a toilet, and as a dump. mitment of PMI branches; support from local govern- Lake Tempe is often covered by water hyacinth “In South Sulawesi, the CBDP programme is techni- ment and the will and capacities of communities to The district has a population of 360.000 people. The plants that spread rapidly, creating many problems cally not a climate change programme. But it has implement the programme. majority of residents in Wajo are fishermen and their for Laelo villagers. The plants have obstructed elements linked to climate issues such as floods and Case Study: Indonesia | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 39 38 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Case Study: Indonesia
rainfall patterns. We can see from what the villagers to work closely with our Red Cross chapter and areas prone to natural disasters, said Jeong Park, told us about changes in rainfall patterns and difficul- branches.” Disaster Management Coordinator in Indonesia. ties in rain forecasts.” For the second stage, PMI aims to develop tools for “As the Red Cross and Red Crescent, we have to climate change adaptation through community-based translate scientific phenomena into things people can Advocacy and awareness programmes already launched in Indonesia. This can understand,” he continued. “That’s sensitization. We be done with new activities and areas selected for the attempt to show that simple things in daily life are development of climate change measures as part of very much relevant to climate change adaptation.” In response to climate change impacts, the risk reduction campaigns. In the third stage, there will Take throwing away plastic bags, he said. They could Indonesian Red Cross Communication Unit has initi- be an integration of climate change into disaster risk block drains and worsen floods caused by heavier ated practical and strategic measures to implement management and community-based programmes rainfall. community-based programmes for “Climate Change and the training of Red Cross youth, disaster Adaptation”, known locally as Adaptasi Perubahan response, community-based action teams and village Iklim (API ). health volunteers. The way forward
PMI has integrated climate change components into During the last stage, PMI plans to promote adapta- its community-based programmes in four stages. tion by introducing climate change content to educa- The integrated community-based risk reduction/ The first stage focuses on advocacy, awareness and tion curricula and training materials. climate change project in Jakarta is now in its first orientation with both internal advocacy (within PMI phase. Due to end in 2008, it is mainly focused at all provincial, municipal, district and sub-district Rawa Buaya community provides one example of on conventional disaster preparedness for climate levels) and external advocacy to the government, PMI communicating climate change issues to the change. Other projects include dissemination and community and stakeholders such as NGOs, the public through ongoing programmes. “It’s not just risk reduction activities and leadership orientation for International Federation and National Societies. An about risk reduction but also the participation of community education. orientation and awareness of API is also provided to PMI Headquarters and NGOs working on climate PMI management, staff and volunteers. change,” said Achmad Djaelani. “The awareness of the importance of integrated community-based risk reduction should eventually This advocacy method includes development of be seen in an improvement in preparedness and networks with agencies involved in API efforts, such Red Cross/Red Crescent roles community involvement in advocacy campaigns,” as the Environment Ministry, Indonesian Forum for said Jeong. the Environment, Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Centre The roles of the International Federation and its “Jakarta’s urban poor are the target groups for these for International Forestry Research, and Pelangi National Societies are significant, particularly when climate change programmes. If they’re successful, Indonesia. global communities face a series of intensifying cli- improvement in the community and urban environ- mate change effects with a dramatic increase in both ment will lead to poverty reduction.” “The term ‘climate change’ sounds very abstract to the number of people affected and socio-economic most people. Most of them still don’t understand losses. When disaster strikes, the already underprivileged what it is about. But PMI feels this is the time to suffer most. In Indonesia as elsewhere, the grass- start doing something to educate and inform the CRED’s 2006 review of disaster numbers and trends roots presence of the Red Cross and Red Crescent public through our community based programmes,” reported that Asia remained the most affected region makes reducing the risks a natural priority. said Maria Rosa Aswi Reksaningtyas, head of PMI’s in terms of people killed. Moreover, US$ 3.2 billion in Communication Division. economic damage was recorded in Southeast Asia that year, far more than the US$ 1.05 billion average “We are now working on the first stage after having from 2000–2004. officially launched the public awareness campaign on climate change issues on World Red Cross Red Hence, the International Federation must strive to Crescent Day last May in Jakarta,” said Aswi. “This reduce potential risks while strengthening capacity stage may take some time, but we will continue building in disaster preparedness and response in Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide Dialogues Dialogues | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 43 42 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Dialogues
water on the other side. When the big waves come, What Pese fears most is a tide surge caused by the tidal surges, there is nowhere else to go. Unless one of the ever-more-frequent cyclones. “It hasn’t you consider New Zealand where 4,000 Tuvaluans happened yet but I am sure it will come,” he says, already reside and an official intake of 75 a year helps predicting a major disaster. increase the number. Support for cooperation on all fronts has come from Tataua Pese is going nowhere. He’ll be the last man the Tuvalu Climate Action Network (TuCAN) of which standing if he has his way, the last man boarding Pese is a founding member. A working group, it the last of the ships, although before that day arrives brings together government, church, NGOs and the much can be done to help islanders adapt to the Red Cross. Through TuCAN, WWF has supported changing situation. All is not lost. There’s life among “My country is 100 per the development of a toolkit to assess community the atolls yet. cent vulnerable” dangers and how to respond to them. How good it can be depends on partnerships, TATAUA PESE, TUVALU Such is the teamwork, the Red Cross delayed the the Tuvaluan says. Because the challenges are start of its own community self-assessments (see so immense, because time is ticking faster in the Community Risk Reduction) until the toolkit was South Pacific, because resources are limited, those complete, and a common approach could be imple- confronting the changes must pull together. The way mented. Pese says, “The Red Cross has a clear role Pese sees it knowledge must be pooled, strategies here in the islands. We have our own activities and shared, available means aligned. agenda but with TuCAN we do things as a group.” Dialogues Awareness raising is one of them, something that is “This isn’t something you do on your own. With small so much stronger when organizations agree on the islands like these it is very important stakeholders message they want to get across. Tataua Pese is in no doubt where the front line of work hand in hand and know what each other is do- climate change is. It is creeping up the beach of ing, and what they do well,” he contends. “Together The National Society explained it was the humanitar- his South Pacific island home: the sea level is rising we can do a lot more.” ian consequences on which it wished to focus. Helping vulnerable people to help at twice the average global rate that scientists had Through its community presence it was very well forecast. It is eating away at the shore. As in so many placed, particularly for raising awareness among the themselves places around the world, local residents who notice Dialogue sought around the world islanders and developing risk reduction. rapid and dangerous changes wonder why it is hap- Cooperation is at its best when everyone recognizes pening, what to do about it, and who can help. Tataua Pese is close to government today, close to their own agenda. Networks like TuCAN can only The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement never the meteorological office, and extremely close to the strengthen that because defining what one does, and If it goes on like this, it is feared, the nine coral atolls works in isolation, on small islands or anywhere else. national disaster management agency where the does not, is prerequisite to how it operates. and islands north of Fiji that comprise the Polynesian But partnerships, one of its strategic directions, were coordinator depends upon Red Cross support. “He nation of Tuvalu will be gone within a century. The never more important than in the context of global doesn’t have staff,” Pese says, “but we have capacity On World Environment Day on 5 June, the Tuvalu people could be gone within decades. warming. Around the world, as National Societies in our volunteers. The coordinator appreciates that.” Red Cross campaigns with the others for islanders have taken on climate change programmes they have to care for their own environment. “It is,” Pese says, Pese, the Tuvalu Red Cross’s climate change and sought dialogue with government and local authority, Particularly during flooding. Alongside awareness and “one of our big clean-up days. We clean up along the disaster management officer, told colleagues at a with meteorological offices, universities and other cen- risk-reduction measures, the Red Cross has strength- shore to protect the coral. Dumping rubbish there is a Red Cross/Red Crescent conference in The Hague, tres of knowledge, and with NGOs, civil society. By ened its disaster response as well. Once upon a time national habit but it affects the coral in the lagoon so “Our highest point is only four metres above sea level. reaching out to others they have started to network. unusually high tides could be predicted by islanders. we campaign against it.” Most people live at between one and three. My coun- They came early each year to the islands. Now they try is 100 per cent vulnerable.” Perhaps in a very small country cooperation comes come any time, the most invasive from January to There is nothing wrong in that. There would be noth- more easily. Everyone knows one another. Even so, April. The Red Cross assists with evacuation and ing wrong in helping to promote clean energy for the With a total landmass of just 26 square kilometres, when the Red Cross showed concern about climate shelter, and consults with the authorities and NGOs islands, even if greenhouse-gas emissions in Tuvalu Tuvalu’s 10,000 inhabitants are all coastal dwellers. change it surprised the Tuvalu government. Had the on measures to protect particularly endangered are less than the flatulence of a herd of cows in a A few minutes walk from any shoreline you reach the Red Cross become environmental? places. corner of a field in Germany. It might even embarrass 44 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Dialogues Women collect drinking water from the flooded river Jamuna at Aricha in Bangladesh. Photo: Reuters/Rafiquar Rahman
the world’s biggest producers, whose pollution is agency, the society approached the agency, ex- warming the ocean and doing most of the coral dam- pressed interest and have since been included in that age, into moving faster. network. In southern Africa, the Mozambique Red Cross has brought government agencies together But for the Red Cross the 5 June event is not merely with community leaders at national, district and local an environmental effort: Healthy corals support local level to share information about extreme weather and livelihoods, ultimately reducing the vulnerability of the need to develop more resilience to storms, floods islanders to climate change. Similarly, planting of and droughts. The Malawi Red Cross is working with trees along the shore to help reduce the strength of the meteorological service and rural community lead- the waves, and thus the coastal erosion, is the more ers to ensure that subsistence farmers can receive, important lesson. “Our main task,” Pese says, “is understand, trust, and act upon the climate informa- working with the communities to understand what is tion produced by scientists. happening and how they can reduce the impact.” And in the Netherlands, the Red Cross has shown That is the core of Red Cross/Red Crescent work: what can be achieved by bringing people together. to help vulnerable people to help themselves. And Heatwaves over the past few years have brought what makes it easier for National Societies is that increasing death and the Red Cross felt that the as independent auxiliaries to public authorities in Netherlands was unprepared for more and longer humanitarian activity the role of the Red Cross and hot spells. Advocating heatwave preparedness, the Red Crescent is clearly described in existing agree- Red Cross opened a dialogue with the health ministry ments with governments. and more than 60 organizations. They found unex- pected partners – in construction, the health sector, Some National Societies, in fact, have found knowledge centres and elsewhere – and created a themselves in a position to influence national policy. broad platform recommending action. The upshot The Nicaraguan Red Cross is one of them. It plays a was a national heatwave plan, which came into force key role in the country’s National Risk Management in 2007. Plan, working with decision makers at a national and regional level to enhance their collective disaster Dialogue with knowledge centres is fundamental response, from training to coordinating response but can be challenging. One National Society officer procedures. from Latin America tells how on starting a climate change programme she went to her meteorological One of the lessons learned there has been the value office for advice. They provided a mass of information of the Red Cross and Red Crescent as a bridge on agriculture and rainfall that she studied diligently builder between the climate change world and that of for a couple of months. At the end of it all her head disaster risk management. In most countries climate was spinning: she understood nothing even vaguely change is dealt with by environment-related govern- useful. ment departments focusing on pollution issues, with little involvement of disaster-related ones. The Red The challenge is mutual. More and more scientific Cross and Red Crescent can facilitate dialogue and institutes are turning to climate change, and some strengthen the disaster-management (DM) compo- universities are developing curricula. But most are nent in national climate change policy. science-oriented, intent on doing research and publishing it in scientific journals using sophisticated The Viet Nam Red Cross is another society connect- language. How the knowledge can be communicated ing a national DM system with climate change players to vulnerable people in a way that benefits even the and environmental institutes. When the country’s poorly educated without compromising scientific disaster-management board was not invited to a cli- complexity is something academics want answered mate change conference organized by a government as well. Dialogues | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 47 46 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Dialogues
Friends of the Earth Indonesia, the United States community, government and any other institutions or Agency for International Development, WWF and NGOs that share an interest. other agencies. Among the lessons learned, Bevita Dwi cites the A tight partnership with local government and the importance of mainstreaming the community-based community is a key element for the success of its disaster preparedness concept into local govern- long-term disaster management plan, starting from ment. One way to do that, she says, is to integrate the village up through sub-district, regency and the community action plan into the government’s provincial levels in the form of technical and financial development strategy. assistance. Health, social affairs, public works, “Perhaps we have been education, water supply and forestry agencies can PMI would seem to be on track. What they have all be part of it. achieved in West Sulawesi and elsewhere the gov- addressing climate ernment is keen to replicate in other places, with and The structures and processes stand PMI in good without the Red Cross. change, only before we stead. Climate change as such has only now begun to be integrated into what the National Society does, Now that really is networking. didn’t recognize it” but the preparedness programmes could have been BEVITA DWI MEIDITYAWATI, INDONESIA written for it. “Perhaps we have been addressing climate change,” says PMI disaster preparedness coordinator, Bevita Dwi Meidityawati, “only before we didn’t recognize it.”
The Polewali Mandar district in West Sulawesi pro- A question being asked by some National Societies vides an example. Back in 2003 cooperating with the is: how complete does the information need to be? Danish Red Cross, PMI introduced a five-year com- It isn’t easy to deal with the uncertainties that are a munity-based disaster-preparedness programme to part of the science. four provinces, including West Sulawesi. Developed in line with government structures, it covered 15 villages, three of them in Polewali Mandar. It was a Tight partnership with local bottom-up approach, the communities themselves identifying and mapping potential risks to their lives government and livelihoods, and compiling an action plan to avoid or at least reduce the negative consequences. Setting up meetings with meteorological offices to discuss what they do and do not know about The threats in Polewali Mandar come mainly from expected impacts of climate change, and with aca- sea erosion and river floods. The villages are sited demic institutions to learn what they do and do not along the beaches, caught between the sea on one do in research and support of government policies, side, the river on the other. A wave-breaker project is the starting point. and mangrove planting to protect the shoreline have brought improvement already, along with the con- For Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI), the Indonesian struction of a health post and a safe water supply. Red Cross, dialogue with knowledge centres has come through the climate change network they An adaptive response for climate change might aug- are part of. Both the national meteorological office ment the programme but would not alter the direction and Bogor agricultural university are in the group because it already contributes to disaster risk reduc- that also includes the environment ministry and tion nor would it depart from the partnership practice an independent research institute that advises it, in which PMI looks for “intensive participation” from 48 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Dialogues: How-to guide A Kenyan woman struggling to find enough water after the failure of the rains in 2005. An estimated 2.5 million people needed emergency aid, and thirty per cent of the livestock died. Photo: Anthony Mwangi/Kenyan Red Cross
Dialogues How-to guide
The Red Cross and Red Dialogue with Most of the work on climate Crescent does not work in isola- knowledge centres change science has involved pro- tion and this is particularly true for Because climate change is such jections for the coming decades climate change work. It is crucial a broad issue it is important that and even centuries. This is slowly to develop and maintain contacts what your National Society com- changing and there is more with government at local and municates about climate change research into observed changes national level, knowledge centres is science-based. To achieve this in weather patterns and extreme like meteorological offices and you need a good relationship events. Additionally, shorter-term universities, and other actors in with the knowledge centres in forecasts for such things as civil society. your country. intense rainfall, tropical cyclones and even seasonal rainfall have Red Cross/Red Crescent work Much of the knowledge can be improved considerably and may on climate change should be found at the national meteoro- be very useful for disaster-man- connected to government logical office and sometimes at agement planning (see Disaster policies. In many countries, universities. However, their prime Management: How-to guide and the National Society has an objective is to do research and to Community risk reduction: How- agreement with government, publish it in a technically rigorous to guide). and dialogue with authorities manner. For many scientists it is can be seen in that context. a challenge to communicate their Checklist A Red Cross or Red Crescent knowledge in a way everyone • Organize meetings with your society could even be a partner can understand but still reflect national meteorological office and in developing national policy on scientific complexity. other knowledge centres, like the humanitarian consequences universities. of climate change, since climate It can be difficult to deal with • Discuss with them what they risk reduction and adaptation is their information, particularly the know and do not know about new to most governments. uncertainties that are an inherent the expected impacts of climate part of the scientific world. Since change in your country. This section gives you sugges- Red Cross/Red Crescent staff • Does your meteorological office tions on strengthening your cannot be expected to be familiar get seasonal forecasts (weather partnerships or starting new with the technical aspects of patterns for three months ahead) ones, and is particularly relevant climate science, it is perfectly and how do they use them and for your National Society’s reasonable to ask experts to try communicate them to society? climate change focal point. Later to simplify their key messages. • Expect to be bombarded with on, when more Red Cross/Red complicated words and figures. Crescent departments integrate If your National Society is helping Be prepared to ask repeatedly for climate change into their planning to disseminate them, the experts clarification and simplification, so and programmes, this section will must ensure that the most impor- you can take the right message be helpful for them, too. tant aspects of climate change from the knowledge centres to are expressed in plain language. the people at risk. Always feel free to ask for clari- • Identify possible niches for Red fication and simplification when Cross/Red Crescent action, like learning about climate science. bringing the knowledge centres Dialogues: How-to guide | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 51 50 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Dialogues: How-to guide
in contact with communities so After initial meetings and informa- Society participates, it could • Identify what the National they can better understand the El Niño and seasonal forecasting tion-sharing it is important for be the forum where you can Society could contribute to the needs and issues of the most the National Society to formulate propose discussion of the development of national policies vulnerable people, or ensuring Besides climate change, and seasonal climate conditions. what it wants to get out of this humanitarian consequences on climate risk reduction. communication of longer-term another area for dialogues with There is abundant evidence of dialogue in terms of policies, of climate change. • Invest in a permanent dialogue forecasts to local communities knowledge centres is seasonal the relationship between El Niño knowledge, improved quality of with government in order to (see box on the right). forecasting. and droughts in various regions programmes and mobilization of There is a risk that you could be on top of relevant policy • Ask your climate change experts of the globe, including southern human and financial resources. get stuck at the national developments. to be engaged in your publications For centuries, people have Africa, south-east Asia and This gives the dialogue an level. You also need to have and other communication tools observed trends and patterns north-east Brazil. agenda and more focus. this dialogue with local govern- Pitfalls (such as videos and theatre pro- involving rainfall and tem- ments, particularly in the more Most governments still regard ductions), to make sure what you peratures. Noticing relationships Climate scientists and mete- With your knowledge about what vulnerable parts of your country climate change policies as envi- write, say or portray is correct. between events often leads to orological services are now de- the government is and is not do- and/or where the National ronmental ones and they may not reasonably reliable predictions. veloping seasonal forecasts for ing to reduce the risks of climate Society already has health or be interested in the disaster risk- Pitfalls For example, fishermen in Peru many regions across the globe, change you can get a clearer risk reduction programmes. The management angle of it. Likewise The science of climate change have known for centuries that based on observed and pro- picture of what role you can play Red Cross and Red Crescent many disaster-management may be presented in a very roughly every four to seven jected oceanic and atmospheric to strengthen national policy. Movement is in a perfect position policies do not address climate abstract or complex way. Don’t years, around December, the conditions. These projections, to stimulate policy dialogue with risks. Don’t get discouraged but be intimidated; be patient and waters of the Pacific Ocean sometimes months in advance, A key responsibility of govern- local government and to link it to see this as an opportunity. outspoken in your need for become unusually warm off can provide guidance on ments is to raise public awareness national dialogue, and vice versa. simple messages. their shores, leading to wetter various issues from hurricanes about the risks of climate change. Your National Society can play a Don’t get stuck at the national and warmer conditions for the to malaria and potentially help The Red Cross and Red Crescent major role by ensuring that the level, support branches to Opportunities following months. They call this millions of people. The Red can offer its national network of discussion properly addresses contact their local government A national Red Cross or Red El Niño, and information about Cross and Red Crescent can local branches and volunteers the challenges and opportunities on climate risk reduction Crescent society may be an it allows farmers to adjust their use this information to plan work for awareness-raising activities. posed by climate change among interesting outlet through planting decisions and improve in food security, health, water When some dominant risks are the people who are most at risk. Opportunities which knowledge centres can harvests. and disaster management. The identified, you can help define The fact that there is often a communicate. Climate Centre can help with strategies to address them. Checklist mismatch between climate Recent scientific advances have the use of these forecasts and • Contact your national climate change and disaster policies Dialogue with your helped us understand relation- in connecting you to the right Governments often have a cli- change focal point to learn about creates the opportunity for the government ships between events like El Niño institutions. mate change advisory group with your government’s policies on National Society to facilitate a dia- Almost all governments have civil society actors. The National adaptation to climate change. logue between the two communi- written reports about the Society can propose it become a • Read relevant documents (like ties, and thus assist in streamlining vulnerability of their countries Some least-developed countries contact details. This person is a member. Indeed, climate change the national communications, these two vital policy areas. to climate change. These are have written National Adaptation possible entry point for further focal points often treasure the and NAPA) the national communications Programmes of Action (NAPA). In communication and dialogue supporting role that national • Check if and how the existing You can engage your network written for the United Nations these documents, governments with your government. societies can play in reaching disaster-management structure is of volunteers and local branches Framework Convention on have prioritized what actions vulnerable communities with linked to climate change policies. in public-awareness activities on Climate Change (UNFCCC). should be taken to make a coun- A first issue for discussion key awareness and adaptation • Find out if your government has climate change risks. Even though the main parts try less vulnerable to the risks of with the focal point is how the messages. Be sure to emphasize an advisory group for its climate of these reports are about climate change. disaster-management structure your grassroots presence in change adaptation policies. Can Dialogue with NGOs, greenhouse-gas emissions of your country is linked to the areas government programmes the National Society be engaged donors and the private (of less relevance for the Red All governments have a climate development of climate change find difficult to reach. in this? sector Cross and Red Crescent), they change focal point, often based adaptation strategies. How can • If there is a national platform Interest in climate change is also describe the vulnerability of at the Ministry of Environment or the National Society, through its If your country has a national on disaster risk reduction, make growing rapidly in many organiza- your country to climate change the Meteorological Office. At the government contacts, engage in platform on disaster risk sure climate change risks will be tions. Yet since the discussion of impacts in the coming decades. UNFCCC website you can find climate risk reduction? reduction in which your National discussed here. climate change risks is relatively 52 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Dialogues: How-to guide School bus drives through flooded street during heavy rains in eastern Indian city of Kolkata. Photo: Reuters/Parth Sanyal
new, it can be expected that, like Checklist support these positions it does your National Society, they are • Identify the organizations which not need to mean the end of the trying to increase their capac- are active or may have an interest partnership. ity to understand and address in climate risk reduction and find the problem. Because of the out what they do, intend to do, Opportunities magnitude of the issue, no one or are capable of doing. When the partnerships succeed can address climate change in • Find out whether donors have in highlighting what binds, rather isolation. Cooperation is therefore programmes that can fund than divides, (and climate change a cornerstone of the climate climate change work in your has a lot of binding elements) change risk-reduction approach. country. they may result in improved Resources (human, finance and • Learn whether actors from programmes for all partners. For time) are limited so we have the private sector may begin example, a partnership between to work together to be most to work, or support work, on the meteorological office, the efficient. climate change issues. National Society and local • Find out whether cooperation is radio stations may improve the Cooperation works best when all possible, for example on public- awareness and early-warning parties recognize the similarities awareness-raising about climate programmes of all. and differences in their own risks. agendas. For example, there is • Find out if actions can be Programmes from good national nothing against your National complementary. NGOs active and local partnerships may be Society promoting clean energy in different regions, or working more interesting for donors to (as many environmental NGOs on different but related issues, fund. would propose), but the core of can strengthen expertise at the our work is to help vulnerable local level. For example, the Red people to help themselves against Cross/Red Crescent VCA can climate risks like floods and be combined with the agriculture droughts. Companies may want programme of an NGO. to sell risk-reducing goods and services only in profitable areas, Pitfalls excluding the communities most Be strong about the National threatened by climate risks that Society’s agenda in cooperations. the Red Cross and Red Crescent Make clear to the other partners cares for. When these different what subjects you’re interested positions are clear and acknowl- to cooperate on (like climate-risk edged, cooperation has more assessments, or targeting the solid foundations and unforeseen most vulnerable) and what you partnerships may emerge. will not actively contribute to (like a proposal to government about Bear in mind that your National energy-friendly public transport). Society can help jumpstart the creation of new partnerships and There may be pressure on the coalitions on climate change. It National Society to take positions can provide substantial credibility, on climate change that violate legitimacy or name recognition your neutrality, for example on to emerging collaborative efforts, specific government measures accelerating the process of to reduce greenhouse gases. awareness and risk reduction. Be clear that while you cannot Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide Communications 56 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Communications Shahidul Islam, a Bangladeshi volunteer, taking part in disaster preparedness training in Kalaparam. Photo: Shehab Uddin/ British Red Cross
In New Orleans, too many people died because either they didn’t receive the hurricane forecast in time, they didn’t understand it, they didn’t trust it, or they didn’t have the means to react adequately – and all that in a major city in the United States.
People must both understand and trust warnings, and they must have the capacity to respond in an adequate manner. The event may be inevitable, but people need to know they can do something about it.
In the year 2000, the Limpopo river basin in southern Africa experienced a very substantial rainfall for many days as a result of unusual cyclones. Experts knew that all that water flowing down the river would result in a flood of enormous proportions, of a magnitude never experienced by rural communities in Mozambique. Yet very few villages were informed about it. Most communities had no electricity or radio, yet people had been able to successfully predict floods by observing Communications ants (these insects build their homes underground, so when groundwater rises they leave their ant nests – and people know that water is rising). The last few decades have brought about a substan- tial change in our relationship to climate: scientists One village was fortunate in that a person who had have more sophisticated ways of finding out what the received the information drove there and told farmers future climate may be, and we now know that climate a big flood was on its way and they had to evacuate. change is increasing the risk of disasters. However, the local chief asked, “Who are you and why should I do what you say? Since the times of my Recent advances in science and technology have ancestors, floods have only occurred after ants leave led to a remarkable growth in the development of their homes. Now the ants are not moving and you forecasts that can help reduce the negative impact of come and ask me to leave?” expected conditions. With predictions ranging from short-term tropical cyclone tracks to shifts in rainfall Unfortunately the flood came so rapidly there was patterns due to climate change, humanity faces two no time for the groundwater to rise, or for ants to new challenges: not just preparing for the foreseeable react before the river overflowed. As in most of the climate but also modifying decision-making proc- Limpopo valley, many people did not evacuate. esses in order to incorporate the availability of new About 700 people drowned. information. The problem was not about knowledge but about Yet the mere existence of predictions is not enough. sharing knowledge. How can we better communicate The predictions need to be communicated, and that what we learn? is a challenge for all, especially in poor countries or among poor communities in rich countries. Hurricane The global climate is changing, and the past no Katrina in August 2005 showed how things can go longer explains the present. Traditional knowledge wrong even if a good forecast is available. is increasingly unreliable because our experience of what has happened before does not necessarily Communications | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 59 58 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Communications
communities have already noticed unusual extreme “We advised them to strengthen their houses, tie powerful storm hit they were caught off guard. Wilma events taking place, they often explain such events down their roofs and keep their children home from was so large that the entire end of the island got through supernatural forces, such as divine punish- school. Houses were damaged but no one died.” slammed. Residents quickly realized that water rather ment or intervention by angry ancestors. This kind of than wind would be the main danger. A storm surge explanation leads to the belief that things will soon Ataide Sacramento, the MRC’s disaster management nearly four metres high swept away scores of homes return to normal – or, even worse, to fatalism and officer and head of its climate change pilot project, and claimed at least one life. inaction. As a Mozambican woman said during a sees it this way: “Communities know something is participatory workshop: “If God wants to punish me, happening to them and their environment. They are Bahamians were left wondering what they could do I will be punished no matter what I do.” not waiting for us to come and tell them the climate is to protect themselves in the future, but Turnquest changing. They know that. They are waiting for us to says people are better prepared now, armed with “Communities know However, that form of thinking can be changed by come up with solutions.” the knowledge that the climate is changing and that access to new information. After learning about unusual things are more likely to happen. something is happening” the very basics of the climate change process and But the MRC’s resources are stretched very thinly. ATAIDE SACRAMENTO, MOZAMBIQUE watching a short video on the impacts of more The National Society needs more technical staff with The Bahamas Red Cross has embarked on an inno- frequent flooding in Argentina and Bangladesh, the knowledge of climate change and risk reduction if vative communications campaign on climate change, same farmer said: “I thought my community was it’s to bring climate-risk awareness to all vulnerable which includes everything from video competitions the only one punished this hard, and that it wouldn’t communities across the country. The key is to learn and TV spots to creative work with deaf children happen again. But now I see that women all over how to communicate our new knowledge about in Nassau to promote disaster preparedness and the world are suffering in similar ways; so maybe it is future conditions in ways that can be understood and response among people with disabilities. true that the rains are changing and will continue to trusted by the communities we serve. change, and maybe I can do something about it.” In Red Cross/Red Crescent terms, Turnquest calls for a “clear international Red Cross mandate” on apply to present and future risks. Communicating Now things are better organized. The cyclone warn- A hurricane from the other side climate change to help national Societies like hers climate change is crucial for disaster risk reduction. ing system set up by the Mozambican government carry messages about disaster preparedness to their uses a colour-coded system with flags to label governments. The International Federation believes there are three approaching cyclones. A Mozambique Red Cross Diane Turnquest, Disaster Management Officer of the important messages to convey to people, according (MRC) disaster-preparedness programme contributed Bahamas Red Cross, thumps the table very gently At the June conference, however, there was a to its head of media, Pierre Kremer: “The risk of to the design and implementation of this system. and points out that she and her colleagues have general consensus that the first communications climatic disasters is increasing; the poor, the elderly It began by asking communities about traditional been dealing with climate change for many years, challenge for the Red Cross and Red Crescent was and the sick are disproportionately vulnerable; but we forecasting methods, and sharing information about even if they didn’t call it that. internal: to convince leaderships that climate change can prepare.” new ways to make predictions. Then a recognizable is something National Societies should be concerned system was set up, based on radios, flags and whis- Turnquest, at a seminar during the Red Cross/Red with. tles for broadcasting alerts. Escape routes and other Crescent June 2007 climate change conference in How do we know the future? response options were identified and disseminated at The Hague, is telling the story of the most recent “When we started communicating climate change community level. This communication process greatly event to remind Bahamians that all bets are off when we did it internally, mainly to an audience of senior contributed to minimizing human losses during the it comes to the weather: Hurricane Wilma – one of managers,” recalls Ethel Kaimila, the programme In recent years information has increasingly come to next intense cyclones to hit the country. the “monster storms” of the record-creaking 2005 coordinator of the Malawi Red Cross. “How was it be seen as a relief “good” in its own right; communi- season (indeed, the most intense Atlantic hurricane going to affect our programming? Our humanitarian cating as a key humanitarian function. “People need In early 2007, in her village of Pambara, Anita and ever recorded). work? What would be the focus and who would the information as much as water, food, medicine or her fellow disaster committee members heard official new partners be? shelter,” said Tony Vaux, an Oxfam veteran who was warnings about Cyclone Favio on Red Cross radios. After scything through southern Florida on a the organization’s global emergencies coordinator for “People didn’t believe us at first that a cyclone was north-easterly track, Wilma took the residents of “Only when we’re comfortable talking about climate nearly a decade. coming,” she says. “They asked how we could talk to the western end of the island of Grand Bahama by change internally in the National Society can we God to get news of the weather. So we organized the surprise: storms usually travel from the south to the move on to addressing external audiences,” accord- In the context of climate change, Red Cross/Red community into small groups, took a radio to each north and skirt the western portion of Grand Bahama, ing to Kaimila. Now the Malawi Red Cross is working Crescent staff and volunteers have to rethink how group and played the government broadcast so they but Wilma came from a different direction. People with the national meteorological service to produce to communicate. While most people in vulnerable could hear it for themselves. therefore did not believe the forecast, and when the communication materials on climate change that can 60 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Communications A farmer walks on a dried-up pond on the outskirts of Baokang, China. Photo: Reuters/Stringer Shanghai
There is always something that can be done about the threats posed by climate change. Early warning systems, typhoon-resistant housing, planting trees against storm surges and landslides, and evacuation plans are just some examples of how the Red Cross and Red Crescent, in collaboration with communi- ties, governments and aid agencies, can buttress resilience.
According to Mohammed Mukhier, head of the policy “Only when we’re and preparedness department of the International Federation: “For too many years, climate change comfortable talking about has been regarded as a predominantly scientific and environmental issue. But we have already witnessed climate change internally climate change strike at the very heart of our work: It is a humanitarian problem. It’s clear that climate in the National Society change is something that we can neither escape from nor ignore. We need to pre-empt its impacts and we can we move on to need to act now.”
addressing external Successful action requires effective communication. The global climate is changing, and the Red Cross audiences” and Red Crescent Movement needs to change its ETHEL KAIMILA, MALAWI communication strategy as well.
help subsistence farmers (who are often illiterate) to understand the implications of changing rainfall patterns on agriculture.
Walter Cotte, the veteran head of disaster response at the Colombian Red Cross, has had similar experi- ence: “There was certainly a period of reluctance in my National Society about getting involved in this kind of work – a lot of senior people thought it was all too complicated and we had enough to do already. But then we started getting more and more hit by extreme weather.” Now fully engaged with the issue, the Colombian Red Cross is at the forefront of climate change communication in the Red Cross/ Red Crescent Movement, with strategies that range from collaboration with university programmes on communications to puppet shows that change com- munity behaviour through schoolchildren.
For the Red Cross and Red Crescent, standing by while vulnerable people suffer is not an option. 62 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Communications: How-to guide Bangladeshi villagers gathered for an awareness-raising drama, part of a disaster awareness and preparedness programme. As a result of this, the villagers have come together to build bamboo bridges which help evacuate the most vulnerable people. Photo: Shehab Uddin/British Red Cross Communications How-to guide
From the perspective of the Your role is to interpret their knowl- policies and programmes to adapt Red Cross and Red Crescent edge and repackage it in ways to climate change. Movement, there are three that can be understood by those important messages to convey that need to learn about this issue. Step 3: to stakeholders: Tailor the contents and Collect examples of how other format of your message to the 1 The risk of climate-related institutions have tried to com- target audience. disasters is increasing. municate similar messages. When communicating about 2 The poor, the elderly and Seek inspiration and advice. climate change, you need to bear the sick are disproportionately in mind that there are trade-offs vulnerable. Step 2: between complexity and clarity. 3 We can prepare. Define your target audience Keep the key message accurate and the transformation you but simple, so the target audi- Communicating these messages seek. ence will be more likely to under- can be a challenge: climate After you have learned what stand, remember and respond. change is a complex issue, yet it is changing and what the needs to be expressed in simple humanitarian implications of Keep the message as accessible and effective terms in order to climate change in your country as possible (see box on page engage Red Cross/Red Crescent will be, you need to identify your 64). It is better to inspire curiosity staff and volunteers – and the audience. You will need different and the desire to learn more in communities they serve. communication approaches the audience, rather than boring depending on whether you are and confusing them with compli- The following steps should reaching staff, volunteers, com- cated terms and difficult theory guide National Societies in how munities or government agen- on atmospheric science. to communicate about climate cies. Make sure you understand change. the perspectives and priorities of Enhance credibility by building your audience. on the signals of climate change Step 1: people have already noticed. Learn about observed and Identify what you want your target Whenever possible, use the voice projected changes in your group to think or do differently be- of peers and other people trusted region. cause of your message on climate by the audience. For example, if A first step is to get a better sense change. For example, if you’re you are trying to reach rural com- of how rainfall, temperature, focusing on volunteers in the dis- munities, a video with comments winds, storms and other weather aster-management programme, from farmers is probably going patterns have been changing or you may want to highlight the to be more effective than a video are expected to change. You will need to be prepared for threats with comments from climate need to reach out to people and that have never occurred before experts. institutions that have some level in their community. If you’re of expertise (see Getting Started). targeting policy-makers, you Consider different options for Sometimes these experts may might want them to include your channels of communication be difficult to understand (see National Society in the design and (e.g. oral presentations, flyers, Dialogues). implementation of government posters, radio, video, drama). Communications: How-to guide | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 65 64 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Communications: How-to guide
Step 4: Step 5: Develop communication What communities need to know Disseminate the message. Relating weather events to products. Ideally, the communication about When designing your products about climate change climate change risks should be climate change remember that people are being part of the general communica- bombarded with messages Remember that using multiple These changes will also have tion of the National Society. That The best understood messenger When you make such a con- competing for their attention, communication channels is more an impact on how plants and is the most efficient. Nonetheless, of climate change is the climate nection to climate change, you from government programmes likely to get people engaged animals behave. Insects and once the new climate-related itself. When unusual weather have to be sure that you have the involving elections to marketing Tell people in communities that pests might come and go in product is finished you have to occurs (not always leading to support of climate experts in your campaigns aimed at selling soap. climate change is caused by the greater numbers. focus on how to ensure that the a disaster) and everybody talks country, otherwise what you say Your climate change message burning of oil, gas, coal and trees target audience is adequately about it, this is a good entry point on climate change risks may not will be easy to forget or ignore all over the world, and that gases It is also important to highlight exposed to your message. for further communication on be trusted. unless it captures both the are forming a kind of transparent that thousands of scientists all climate change. mind and the heart of the target blanket around the world, letting over the world are busy trying to Make sure your product is known When an extreme-weather audience. the sunlight come to our planet understand what is going on, but by the people you want to use it Be aware that no single disaster situation leads to a disaster the but preventing the heat from because of the complexity of the or see it. or strange weather event can sense of urgency is felt a lot Be creative: try to attract people’s escaping back into space. problem they find it difficult to say ever be said to be caused by more strongly. But be careful: attention through innovative ap- exactly what will happen. Identify potential partners in climate change (most extreme we often prepare for the last proaches (e.g. through humour, The warming of the earth is the dissemination effort. First events could occur even without disaster, while the next disaster aesthetics, use of surprising changing the weather. We will have to prepare for of all within the organization, climate change, although they related to climate change tools to illustrate key concepts). surprises. But a lot can be done volunteers may be the key wouldn’t be so likely to happen). may be something completely Be playful with language and The main change is that the to avoid surprises becoming messengers to the communities. What we can say is that a different. After a flood, we may images. For example, a Cayman weather can become more ex- disasters. People and institutions from the particular event fits the pattern all work hard to reduce flood Island Red Cross volunteer treme. When it is raining the rains private sector, government and of rising risks due to climate risk, but the next disaster may proposed the slogan “Climate may be heavier. When it is dry the You need not go into all the de- civil society may assist you in change. be a heatwave or a drought. change: It’s strange!”, which cap- drought may last longer. Ice and tails of climate change with com- using existing communication It is important to highlight this tures the essence of the problem, snow on mountains are melting munities. The different scenarios channels – radio and TV, in your communication. makes people laugh, and at the which might at first lead to more for climate change developed by distribution in retail outlets, same time is easy to remember. water in rivers and then to less scientists for your country may special events. (when the glaciers are no longer be too confusing. Think of this development phase there). Storms and cyclones may Find out about the success or • Make sure your audience have because it does not exist. as a process requiring several be stronger and go to unusual The question of what should and failures of the communications understands what you want to Or they seek confirmation from rounds of testing, correction and places, and more rain may fall should not be shared with vulner- effort. Correct and document tell them. you about any sort of strange reformulation. Whenever pos- out of them. able people is likely to be a per- results to facilitate the adjustment • Be creative in how you weather. Climate change may sible, engage the target audience manent issue for the Red Cross of your communication product communicate. very quickly become the explana- in the development of the com- Also the seasons may change. and Red Crescent. Exchanging for use at another time or in • Make sure your message tion for everything new that is munication product. Ensure the The rainy season may begin experiences with colleagues will another place. reaches your audience, and use happening. Don’t allow this to message is understood and has earlier or later. Winters may be therefore be important in years the internal and external network happen. the desired effect less cold, but snow may fall in to come. Checklist of the Red Cross and Red great quantities. • Educate yourself about the Crescent. Communicating the uncertainties Select methods of production climate change risks for your about climate change is the most and vendors based on your con- country and the humanitarian Pitfalls difficult part of the job. People straints and the desired quality of consequences. Within the certainty of climate tend to lose interest when you the product. • Identify your audience, the change there is a lot that remains cannot give clear answers to the message you want to tell them uncertain. People may want to many questions they may have. and what you expect them to do get information from you about Clear answers are often wrong differently. climate change that you don’t answers. Try to convince people 66 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Communications: How-to guide A Red Cross volunteer in Ikaatini, Kenya at meeting with villagers to discuss water supply. It’s in a part of the country severely affected by drought. Photo: Daniel Cima/American Red Cross
that the uncertainty about the exact nature of climate change is Examples of communication what we need to prepare for. strategies used by National What we often do know is that risks are rising, even if we do not Societies working on climate know exactly how. change Opportunities Use an event related to climate Videos and television Events change (such as extremely heavy Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Indonesia (World Red Cross rainfall) in a smart way. Bahamas, Cayman Islands, and Red Crescent Day); Tuvalu, Jamaica, Malawi, Saint Kitts and Solomon Islands, Tonga, Kiribati Further information Nevis, Samoa and Viet Nam (World Disaster Reduction Day, All information from this World Environment Day) guide is available on Radio programmes www.climatecentre.org, including Trinidad and Tobago, Hier Red Message boards, banners updates and links to further infor- Cross/FreeVoice project Latin Bangladesh, Colombia mation and examples on how to America communicate about climate Educational programmes change. In addition, for major Community outreach and material for schools disasters the Climate Centre programmes Nicaragua, Trinidad and Tobago, mailing list often distributes infor- Argentina, Tuvalu, Samoa Tuvalu, Samoa, Solomon Islands mation on connections to climate change. Theatre More information on these and Colombia, Samoa, Fiji, Kiribati other examples is available on The International Federation also the Climate Centre website has a media package on climate Puppet shows www.climatecentre.org change, containing key mes- Colombia sages for National Societies. A Zambian Red Cross volunteer distributing bednets to help prevent malaria. Photo: Netherlands Red Cross Case Study: Africa | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 71 70 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Case Study: Africa
The yield from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced In 2000–3, 46% of the population were malnourished, by up to 50% by 2020, according to scientists on the according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Many parts of Africa are already considered “water Meanwhile 2006 saw some of the worst floods in stressed” – something that will be exacerbated by Ethiopia’s history, displacing people all over the coun- climate change. try. Flash floods in Dire Dawa, the second largest city after Addis Ababa, killed nearly 250 people and Any significant rise in temperature could also seri- displaced thousands. ously affect cash crops such as tea or coffee. Arid and semi-arid areas all over Africa are becoming yet More than 400 people died during outbreaks of drier. On average the continent is 0.5 °C warmer than acute watery diarrhoea in 2006. Fadis, in the east, it was 100 years ago, in some parts even more. has been badly hit by drought. Many farmers have suffered from poor harvests year after year due to Migration is another outcome of climate change as erratic rainfall. In recent years the rains have failed people move away from drought-prone areas and completely. work as labourers on other farms to earn money to buy food, increasing pressure on particular parts of Yusuf Idris, a village elder, has lived in the area for the continent. 40 years and his family and community are regularly dependent on relief food. The rains have failed con- sistently for the last few years and he cannot plant Case Study: Africa Ethiopia his crops. “When there is a little rain, we can plant sorghum and maize but we don’t produce much,” he says. Scorched landscapes, withered crops, Communities are vulnerable to unfamiliar hazards Divided by the East African Rift Valley into highlands dried-up rivers and lakes; or the opposite and cannot cope with even minor shocks – leading and lowlands, Ethiopia has an extraordinarily diverse The nearby River Boco, which used to be one of the – devastating floods; dying livestock, hungry to a constant rise in the numbers of people needing climate, from the cool and rainy Dega highlands to main sources for irrigation in the area dried up several people. This could be the picture we face humanitarian assistance. The average number of the Danakil depression – one of the hottest, driest years ago, partly because of the lack of rainfall. Yusuf in Africa in a decade unless we manage food emergencies in Africa per year has almost places on Earth. remembers orange and lemon groves beside the climate risks better. tripled since the mid-1980s, and in the last year alone river. He reports that many people in his community 25 million people faced a food crisis. The economy is based on agriculture, which ac- migrate every year because of drought, and scarcity counts for half GDP, 60 per cent of exports and 80 of food and water. New research suggests that the vulnerability to the Africa, with its resources already overstretched, per cent of total employment. But only 1 per cent of climate-change threat is in Africa greater than in has little capacity to deal with further disasters from farmed land is irrigated and drought can throw the Malaria many parts of the world. And the changes won’t be climate change. Around 90% of people depend on whole country into crisis and food shortage. A few kilometres away near the town of Harar, limited to a rising average temperature and changing agriculture for their livelihoods – many are subsist- Lake Halamaya also dried up several years ago, rainfall patterns. Droughts and floods are happening ence farmers who only grow enough food to feed According to Abebe Tadege, head of research at the partly because of the scarcity of rainfall in the region. with increasing severity and frequency, accompanied themselves and their families. Any decrease or national meteorological office in Addis Ababa: “There Lake Halamaya, about five kilometres long, was the by diseases such as diarrhoea. Malaria is also making change in rainfall patterns could mean crop failure have been signs of climate change in Ethiopia since main source of water for Harar and the surrounding an appearance at altitudes that previously had no and consequently serious food shortages or even 2000, and even before. Tropical Africa is a hotspot for communities and provided income for fishermen. mosquitoes, such as in the mid-highlands in Ethiopia. famine. precipitation changes. I am very worried. What is the Rift Valley Fever has reappeared. impact on crops, on tef [the traditional staple], tea, Fatiya Abatish Jacob is a local trader who lived near Agricultural production will be severely impacted coffee, livestock?” the lake for 14 years: “I used to get my drinking water Changing weather patterns in recent years are hav- by climate change – the area suitable for agricul- from the lake, now I have to walk eight kilometres ing a detrimental impact on food security; farmers ture, growing seasons and yield are all expected With five major droughts in two decades, many to get it. Also there were many vegetables farmers are finding they can no longer plant or harvest their to decrease. This would further adversely affect families have not had time to recover and hundreds round here using the water for irrigation and we used crops as they used to for centuries as rainfall is late food security and exacerbate malnutrition in some of thousands of people live on the brink of survival to get fish. Now there are no fish around here and or erratic. countries. every year. vegetables are more expensive.” Case Study: Africa | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 73 72 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Case Study: Africa
And while there was drought in Harar area to the Acute Watery Diarrhoea cases were recorded for the The agricultural sector is central to Rwandan “I feel like I am going backwards,” she says. “The south there were bad floods in 2006 in west Shoa, first time in ten years. And there is clearly interaction environment. It dominates the economy in terms of children are not doing so well. When you see a child where 3,000 people were displaced. “Such heavy between malnutrition, malaria and HIV/AIDS. contribution to the GDP and it also accounts for over of ten, you think he is five.” flooding hasn’t happened for 40 years,” says Tiringo 90% of employment. Agricultural exports represent Engdawork, Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) over 70% of the total; coffee and tea are the two A Rwandan Red Cross Society (RRCS) volunteer branch secretary. “It destroyed houses, crops and Rwanda main export crops. Climate change could have in Bugusera explains that you can now see more cattle.” Local malaria rates have shot up. serious consequences for agricultural production. erratic climate patterns and drought is making people migrate to other areas of Rwanda where they can ERCS disaster preparedness emphasizes clean water Despite a decade of rapid economic growth, poverty In 2006, there were a number of deaths as a result work. People might also go to a nearby town, earn and tree planting for wood, fruit and terracing. Gabriel remains widespread in Rwanda. Known as the “land of heavy rain and floods, and crops and livestock some cash there by petty trade and buy some food Aebachew, head of organizational development, of a thousand hills”, Rwanda is a small landlocked were destroyed. Patricia Hajabakiga, the environment to sell in their own villages. believes that they have to now “create awareness of country surrounded by Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda minister, said this affected the national budget as climate change, collect data and train volunteers” at and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. But money intended for economic development was Many families are separated. Mimi and Josephine are branch level. despite its size, it has very diverse ecosystems. used for emergency measures such as buying food looking after their children and their farms while their relief. husbands have gone elsewhere to earn some cash. According to relief officer Geude Beyenne: “We have Rwanda forms part of the Great East African Plateau, This year their maize crops have failed due to lack of volunteers trained in disaster preparedness activities which rises from the lowlands in the west that are At the same time water levels have gone down and rainfall and they are still hoping for rain for their bean in every part of Ethiopia. We started two years ago characterized by swamps and lakes to the highlands hydroelectric stations, particularly in Ntaruka and harvest. If they fail or come late, they do not know because we realise we are affected by natural calami- of the east. This divides the country between the Nile Mukungwa, have been affected. Electricity generation how they are going to get their food. ties more frequently. We are trying to prepare relief basin and the Congo basin. The climate is moderate has declined and there has been an energy crisis in materials such as blankets and jerrycans and store and tropical, with a short dry season from January the last few years; to produce electricity the govern- Migration became such as serious problem that them in various regions. The policy now is that 10% to February and a long dry season from June to ment has had to buy generators costing millions of almost 80% of the people in the area left their farms of branch income will go to supplies for preparedness September. dollars. This had an impact on the population – with to look for work in other regions between 2003–5. activities.” the price of electricity tripling. However, the local government has tried to stockpile Parts of Rwanda have been hit by persistent drought maize, sorghum and beans and migration has now The ERCS has also placed considerable importance over the last few years, rainfall patterns have been er- Migration decreased, according to Viateur Ndavisabye, execu- on the need to conserve water. Rain “harvesting” is ratic with the result that, again, farmers are confused Bugusera, in southern Rwanda, is an area that has tive secretary of the Gashora regional government. an efficient way of collecting clean water during the as to when to plant and harvest. Musoni Didace, persistently been hit by drought and here around rainy period and it can last several weeks or months. director of the country’s meteorological service says 40% of people lack secure sources of food. Many “Climate change is a big problem,” says Apollinaire climate change is “clearly visible” from the rise in farmers in this area have suffered from bad harvests Karamaga, RRCS secretary general. “We need to “In Moyale, for example, in the south, there is no river minimum temperatures in the last 30 years of up to due to late or erratic rainfall. train volunteers with basic skills, like being able to and so rainwater harvesting is important,” Geude two degrees. advise farmers when to sow seeds, dig the swamp, Beyenne explains. “Water is key, especially in disaster Mary Jane Nzabamwita is a farmer in Gashora with and so on. We need to help them think, ‘What can I preparedness. Some people in the south might only Indeed 2005, was the hottest year for many years in five children to feed. Since 1998 rain has become do according to my realities to cope?’” use a litre a week.” More than 50 rainwater harvesting Rwanda. Temperatures in the capital, Kigali, soared unpredictable. “We think it will rain, then it doesn’t tanks, on roofs and underground, have been built in to 35 °C. Higher temperatures also mean the spread rain and then we lose our harvest,” she explains. According to Marie-Antoinette Uwimana, RRCS head the last two or three years. of diseases such as malaria, already the principal Mary Jane grows sorghum, beans, sweet potatoes of programmes: “The government has started talking cause of morbidity and mortality in every province. and vegetables, some of which are sold at the market about climate change this year, and as we are a The ERCS also has a programme of community- but last year her harvest was down by half. member of the disaster management task force, we based health care for awareness-raising and The interaction between diseases is also of concern: discussed this with them.” There is now a realisation education, but this will have to be scaled up in the someone with malaria, for example, will be more She just managed to save enough money to send that disaster response is no longer enough and that light of climate change. Malaria, typhoid, cholera and prone to catching HIV, and vice versa. Malnutrition her children to school (the children get food from the risk reduction is important and has to be scaled up. diarrhoea are all diseases that spread more rapidly also means diseases spread more rapidly. It is a World Food Programme at school), but she cannot during times of hardship. vicious circle. And diseases thought to have died afford to pay for health insurance fees for the whole “The impacts from climate change are there and out, like cholera, are reappearing. New cholera cases family. The family now has to drink water from the have been problems in the last years,” according to Diseases that were considered to have been were recorded for the first time in Kigali in 2006 and nearby swamps and continually suffer from diarrhoea Eric Njibwami, head of volunteers. “The eastern and eradicated are also making a reappearance. In 2006 in the north-east in 2007. and malaria. southern regions suffer from lack of food because 74 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Case Study: Africa After a long drought which killed livestock in Kenya, floods took what was left. This man lost most of his goats and sheep. Photo: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
of the long season without rain.” The result is that The RRCS has one such project which began several communities can no longer plan harvests or planting years ago – some 10 hectares of the Agatenga because of erratic rains. swamp are now successfully cultivated, providing beans, cassava and rice to nearby communities. The RRCS tries to address this by informing people This part of Rwanda has been hit by drought in the when they are going to have a drought, getting last few years and up to 30% of the people are food- weather information and warning people to keep insecure. Developing projects such as this is part of a stock of food. But in the long term, says Eric the RRCS strategy to promote the capacity of local Njibwami, people have to “diversify through business communities to cope. activities or generating other incomes”. Emmanuel Munyentwari is one farmer who works A major problem is that farmers are very traditional there. He has his own plot of land on the hillside and hesitant to change, says Karamaga. “We may but there he is more dependent on rain. “Last year need to change our crops or diets in the future, but rain was expected in September but it came only people change only very slowly.” He believes it’s in November,” he says, “so we couldn’t plant until important to train volunteers to train farmers to move November and people had little to eat – there were away from their traditional methods of producing food shortages.” But the extra crops that he grows crops, which may not be the most efficient in today’s in the swamp project are useful. His own harvest is circumstances. low and he is really not growing enough food to eat. His dream, he says, is that one day he will be able to Clearly water management and environmental afford school fees to send his wife back to school. protection of land is going to be key. Due to popula- “The Red Cross did a good job here,” he adds, tion pressure much of Rwanda has been deforested “and I hope it can expand.” – with resulting soil degradation and erosion which worsens the impact of drought. Almost 90% of the Training volunteers and mobilising the community is population use wood as cooking fuel. Mobilising the key to dealing with climate-change impacts. Yvonne community to plant trees is, therefore, an important Kabagire is a communications officer at the RRCS objective for the Rwanda Red Cross. The eventual and is also a radio presenter with her own 15-minute aim is for every district to have a nursery with 10,000 programme, Rwanda Red Cross Humanitarian seedlings. Action. Every week she covers subjects such as HIV/ AIDS, the environment, drought, floods and disasters, Swamps and commands an audience of no less than 70% of the entire population of Rwanda.
Rwanda not only has numerous hills but also numer- Kabagire sees radio as an important tool in dis- ous swamps at the bottom of the hills. In the past seminating information on climate change. “People many of these were not cultivated because of the need to know about it because our country is not an expense of drainage and managing the swamp. island,” she explains. “They need to understand the However, given the pressure on land and more erratic phenomenon and how they can have a role in build- climactic conditions that affect crops traditionally ing coping strategies.” grown on the hillsides, developing swamps would provide new arable space, for beans, rice or cassava.
Underground water also means that agricultural pro- duction is less dependent on rainfall and can survive periods of drought. Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide Disaster Management 78 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Disaster Management Wang Huai Min sits on a make-shift raft that he uses to visit his submerged house during the July 2003 floods in China. Photo: Thorir Gudmundsson/International Federation
The sobering reality facing many National Societies around the world is that the whole field of disaster management – humanitarian action both before and after an event – may be changing rapidly in a process that took hold as recently as a decade ago.
The Red Cross and Red Crescent have tradition- ally focused on response. But now other aspects, including the relatively new concept of risk reduction, are also given priority in what is called the “disaster- management cycle”.
The International Federation’s 2002 World Disasters Report argued that preparing to respond to disasters is only part of “risk reduction”. “Where possible,” the report said, “measures to reduce the physical and human impacts of disasters must be taken”. In the Caribbean, where hurricanes are a fact or life, enforc- ing building codes is essential, as it is everywhere. In low-lying coastal states like Bangladesh, where Disaster Management disastrous flooding is already a fact of life, the provi- sion of sturdy cyclone shelters becomes even more important. When disaster strikes the Red Cross and Red Crescent responds as quickly as it can to the maxi- The concept of “natural” disaster itself also throws mum extent resources permit. up definitional issues, particularly in the age of “human-induced” climate change. “Disasters” (except Disaster response has been a core function of the industrial accidents), in fact, are just what happens Red Cross ever since the 1880s, when the American when natural events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, pioneer Clara Barton published her pamphlet storms, floods, droughts collide with people. And it is advocating assistance to victims of “plagues, cholera, where and how they live that determines the scale of yellow fever and the like, devastating fires or floods, the disaster, not just the size of the “natural” hazard. railway disasters, mining catastrophes, etc.” as well as work in wartime. The relatively new concept of the complex disaster has also been identified: this might involve interlock- Reducing the impact of future disasters through ing factors like unemployment, poverty, tuberculosis disaster preparedness and risk reduction, is a more and extreme cold after the socio-economic collapse modern concept and inevitably involves a certain seen in parts of the former Soviet Union; HIV, drought amount of prioritizing. and deforestation in southern Africa; or population growth, unplanned urbanization and intense rainfall But what if the future is radically different from the events all around the developing world. past? And in ways that cannot confidently be pre- dicted? What if 21st-century climate change impacts Climate change itself will create complex disasters: mean not just more serious disasters, like more rising sea levels combined with more intense storms floods, but also unfamiliar ones, like “killer” heatwaves will lead to much more destructive storms surges, in northern Europe and two Category-5 hurricanes and droughts that are rapidly succeeded by floods making landfall in the Americas in one season? and insect plagues will be more devastating. Disaster Management | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 81 80 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Disaster Management
Another distinction often made to try to order priori- course, had set a new record for economic damage “Right now there are at least half a million people ties in the humanitarian world is between “sudden and destroyed a US city: Hurricane Katrina. The trend affected by floods in Colombia. It’s a big emergency onset” disasters, especially seismic events like volca- seems is likely to continue: the 2007 season was the but the national system can cope, for now. The real noes but also climatic events like storms, flash floods first one on record to have two hurricanes making question is how to solve the problem for good. The and even heat waves, and “slow onset” disasters like landfall as Category-5 storms. next emergency will just be the next rainy season.” drought and famine. So the big question facing the Colombians now In the Latin American context particularly, torrential And yet a further major variable, of course, is the is: how frequent will this new hazard prove to be? rain and floods as well as earthquakes and volcanoes amount of publicity disasters get – often a function According to Cotte: “For ordinary people what they generate another indirect but no less deadly effect of of how easily they can be covered by first-world TV perceive as variability in the weather is the problem, weather extremes: landslides. Many millions of Latin crews. This is vital to the work of enlisting donors. “The next emergency rather than climate change as a trend. Americans live in poor conditions in hazard-prone Hurricanes get more publicity than most disasters, areas, at the foot of unstable mountains, along particularly when they affect the United States. will just be the next rainy “Our effort at the moment is focused on four areas: river banks or in low-lying areas liable to flooding. raising people’s awareness of climate change as an Urbanization and deforestation make the problem season” issue; acting as a facilitator for the work of private worse. The future will be different WALTER COTTE, COLOMBIA and public sectors and the local communities; helping deploy development aid at the local level in Precisely because of the growing vulnerabil- micro-projects relevant to climate change; and above ity to weather extremes of Latin America and the The most recent scientific report from the all advocacy on behalf of vulnerable people.” Caribbean, work has begun to integrate the new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) awareness of climate hazards into the regular said it is likely that future tropical cyclones will disaster management cycle in a programme funded become “more intense”, with higher wind speeds and by the Dutch lottery. The Red Cross is leading heavier rain. Catalysing preparedness implementation in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica remembers it as a “turning point” for people’s attitude and Colombia while “Free Voice” – a Dutch com- The number of hurricanes in the North Atlantic has to new climate risks. Latin Americans have little choice but to manage munications NGO – covers the Dominican Republic been above average in nine of the last 11 years, climate-related disasters. The Caribbean and Central and Haiti. and the evidence suggests substantial increases in The National Society, fully integrated into Colombia’s America lie in the Atlantic and Pacific storm belts. intensity and duration since the 1970s. Recent stud- national disaster response system, had been at- And mountains and intricate river basins generate The programme’s objective is to get across the ies even show that on average about twice as many tending the emergency meetings as the hurricane lethal mudslides and floods. But also the reverse is idea that the future will bring new risks. There has Atlantic hurricanes now form each year as a century approached and put its own branches on alert as happening: some regions face drought on an unprec- to be better planning at every stage of the disaster- ago. Yet the behaviour of hurricanes, and especially soon as the authorities issued a storm warning. edented scale. management cycle, better use of weather forecasts the track they follow over the surface of the Earth, is – a key component of any early-warning system, far from easy to predict. “Hurricanes normally sweep north of us,” Cotte Climate change is among the many socio-economic and better use of seasonal forecasts of hurricanes, points out. “Climate change has become an issue processes like land use patterns that increase the droughts and El Niño/La Niña effects. It is important not to label individual extreme-weather now in the whole of Colombia’s Caribbean region risk of disasters. Because of simple poverty, people events as “climate change”. Instead, we can recog- – not just the coast itself – in a way it wasn’t before. in Latin America often inhabit cheap land that is The key message: climate change can catalyse nize the trend of which they might be a part, and the And especially our islands, where people think they’re prone to natural hazards, greatly increasing their better disaster preparedness by encouraging the rising general uncertainty and risk. Hurricanes are a threatened and need to prepare.” vulnerability. incorporation of new information and leading to more good example. Possibly the only thing we know for effective operations. sure: the future will be different from the past. Never before had the Atlantic seen a total of 27 “I’ve been involved in disaster management in named tropical storms. The normal alphabetical list of Colombia for a long time,” Walter Cotte recalls, “and I One community in Guatemala is among many who This was much the situation that confronted the innocent-sounding tags – Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, can say confidently that the last five years have seen have taken this message to heart. The village of Colombian Red Cross (CRC) when, towards the Emily, etc. – had to be extended in 2005 with Greek a very sharp rise in the number of people affected by Santa Rosa, in the department of Chiquimila, has end of the record-breaking 2005 Atlantic season, letters, starting with Hurricane Alpha on 22 October floods and the amount of damage they cause. No already been relocated once, before the second Hurricane Beta bore down on the islands of and ending with Tropical Storm Zeta which, for only doubt. They happen more often and sometimes the world war, because of the landslide danger. And Providencia and San Andrés in the Caribbean. Walter the second time on record, lasted into the new year. two rainy seasons join up and make one! when cracks started to appear in the hills above them Cotte, the CRC’s veteran head of disaster response, The infamous 11th named storm of the season, of the villagers, who survive mostly through subsistence Disaster Management | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 83 82 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Disaster Management
agriculture, realized the same thing might have to and fishing families hit by massive floods at the end after disasters. But we also have to move to safe- happen again. of 2006, just as they were still struggling to recover guarding livelihoods as well as lives. from severe drought. The inhabitants of Santa Rosa are only too aware “In all our work we are making livelihoods an underly- of the risks they face, and at their own request have Amidst the more familiar after-effects of flood, the ing priority. Protecting livelihoods has to be part and now been included in the climate change project price of food “soared beyond the purchasing capacity parcel of emergency relief.” and are involved in the setting-up of a local disaster of many families,” according to Abdishakur Othowai reduction committee and preparedness training. Abdulla, KRC drought project manager and a vocal Red Cross advocate of climate preparedness in “When it rains it floods Africa. Indonesia: a disaster a day and that kills people. In a phrase, he says, the weather is “upside down”. On the other side of the world another intensely “In the months that used to be rainy there may not be disaster-prone country presents a similarly daunting When it doesn’t rain rain. The winters that used to be cold are no longer array of seismic, climatic and man-made risks: cold. When it rains it floods and that kills people. Indonesia. there’s a drought and When it doesn’t rain there’s a drought and that kills people too. The seismic risk in the Indonesian archipelago is that kills people too” legendary, as demonstrated by the devastating ABDISHAKUR OTHOWAI ABDULLA, KENYA “The farmer will tell you that they plant and it doesn’t 2004 tsunami. Yet the risk of extreme weather is rain and they lose their seeds. After the crop has not to be underestimated either. On 8 May 2007, sprouted it is supposed to rain continuously until the World Red Cross/Red Crescent Day, the Palang crop matures, and when the crop matures the rains Merah Indonesia (Indonesian Red Cross) chose for in recent years: “We have increased our investment are supposed to stop. But it doesn’t happen like that its national focus “adapting to the consequences of in early warning systems and reinforced our any more. Or it may rain just before the farmer is due climate change” to highlight the National Society’s contingency planning on a national level. to harvest and the crop rots. work in disaster preparedness and risk reduction. “We’re scaling up the pre-deployment of relief “Once people would have said this was an act of The PMI’s Bevita Dewi Meidityawati – speaking in items, such as blankets and tents,” he adds, “and God, but it’s been going on for ten years they’re June – remembers: “When I was in school I was told increasing the capacity of our Emergency Response saying the weather has changed, the climate has rain came between September and April and the Units, which are made up of teams of specialists on changed. There is no single, normal season, no dry time was from May to August. But it’s changing. standby to be sent to disaster zones. With a chang- cropping season. We have just had a whole month of rain. Every five ing climate, we need a stronger capacity to respond years we have a big flood in Jakarta. It gets bigger. in an adequate and timely manner.” “Our policy now is to tell people that we have to The 2007 floods lasted longer and were more costly. adapt because this phenomenon will be with us for In 2006 we had [weather-related] disasters every a very long time.” month.” Complex disaster in Kenya One contribution the Kenyan Red Cross has Putting together climatic and seismic disasters and developed is its ingenious “de-stocking” project. The man-made transport and industrial accidents, it is Kenya is one of many countries where climatic National Society buys cattle in poor condition during only a slight exaggeration to speak of a disaster a extremes – especially flood and drought – seem to drought and slaughters them for meat, enabling day in Indonesia. overlap, then become embroiled with human factors farmers to save the money they earn. Healthy cattle like deforestation and migration to produce virtually are then sold back to farmers once the drought Peter Rees, head of the operations support permanent disaster conditions. abates. department at the International Federation in Geneva, points out that the International Federation has In 2007 the Kenyan Red Cross (KRC) began a major Othowai Abdulla adds: “The traditional Red Cross taken steps in response to the increase in disasters livelihood-recovery programme to support farming role is blood, ambulances, giving people blankets 84 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Disaster Management: How-to guide Local Red Cross workers were among the first on the scene in February 2006 after a landslide killed more than 1,000 people in the Philippine village of Guinsaugon. It followed torrential rain falling on the embankment visible in the distance. Photo: Rumulo Godinez/International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Disaster Management How-to guide
Disaster management (DM) is into regular DM operations. The At this stage, the National Society one of the core functions of guiding principle is integration: should already have designated many National Societies: saving climate change is not a wholly a focal point for climate change, lives and assisting people hit by new or separate risk, but one who will be responsible for the disasters, as well as preparing additional factor on top of many integration of the changing risks to respond to future events and others that determine the disas- into DM programmes, and who reducing people’s vulnerability to ter risk in a particular country or will be in charge of some of the expected hazards. Due to climate community. In that sense, climate planning in step 2. change, these National Societies change is mainly a planning is- will face more and larger opera- sue. It affects priorities and plans, Step 2: tions, and disasters of a different and may prompt the national Assessing priorities. nature, adding up to greater de- society to increase its efforts or Most National Societies’ disaster mands on their capacities. They refocus its activities. management strategy will include may face increased health risks, prioritization of resources and diminished food security and But the kinds of specific assets target areas. Climate change water supply, and even increased and activities needed to respond should be factored in. This migration and displacement. to or prepare for disasters – such may sound complicated, but as emergency stocks, shelters, actually it is not. Once you have Risk-reduction activities and community-based early-warning information on how risks may be early-warning procedures need systems, communication tools or changing (from step 1), you do to be adapted to the changing networks of volunteers – remain not need complicated guidelines hazards, including the need to largely the same. or external experts to tell you communicate them effectively how to deal with the changing to the people at risk. Although Step 1: risks: your staff and volunteers somewhat beyond the scope of Collecting general background are the experts in terms of the most National Societies, increased information. implications. efforts will also be needed for The first step is to know what recovery and reconstruction from you are dealing with. Understand To start with, you should check more frequent, more intense, the changing risks that your your National Society’s key DM more unfamiliar disasters. country may be facing. This plans. For instance, check the is typically done as part of the following questions using the But climate change also brings national climate risk assessment information from the climate-risk opportunities. It can and must (see Getting Started: How-to assessment and possibly risk act as a catalyst for better guide, step 3). Where pos- maps (see step 1). disaster management, especially sible, such information could because more people realize that also include risk maps of the On a strategic level: we also need to invest in disaster country, identifying hazards and • Are you prepared for the all preparedness to cope with the vulnerable areas. Also, when disasters that can be expected? rising risks. this is available, information from • Are you prepared for them in all community-based Vulnerability parts of the country? This section outlines how to and Capacity Assessments (VCA) • Are you focusing on the most integrate the changing risks could be included. vulnerable groups? Disaster Management: How-to guide | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 87 86 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Disaster Management: How-to guide
• Are you aware of new diseases Step 3: and food security, directly by Regular weather forecasts are community level. Methods background information, and that may arise during disasters Action. changes in temperature and provided from hours up to two may include drama, school assessing priorities. (see also Health and Care) • Enhancing preparedness to rainfall patterns, or through weeks in advance. In recent programmes and media. • Are you aware of new threats to respond. Response capacity may changes in extremes. Food years, the quality of so-called Specific guidance is included In addition, National Societies food security? need to be adjusted to account security programmes should seasonal forecasts (one to six in Communications. should document success • Are you aware of new potential for new and rising risks due take account of the way climate months of lead time) has also stories. For instance, if aware- conflicts, for instance due to to climate change. Activities change may affect the risks improved tremendously, for many • Capturing local information. ness about climate change has increasing pressure on natural should be planned using regular facing vulnerable parts of regions. While they are not infal- Complementing awareness helped to recruit new volunteers resources? National Society and International the rural population. Simple lible they can really help a farmer raising by telling communities in one district, such a strategy Federation tools, such as solutions may be available, know whether a rainy season what is known about changing may also work in other parts of On an operational level: the Disaster Management such as drought-resistant crop is more likely to start late or be risks at the national and global the country, and even in other • Are you making use of short-term Information System (DMIS) varieties or even changes in soil relatively dry (see box on page level, the National Society should National Societies. The more weather forecasts, seasonal and your national climate-risk management practices. Again, 50). Besides the forecasts of also listen to local perceptions such examples are shared and rainfall forecasts, and long-term assessment. This may include the background information temperature, rainfall and storms, and observations of changes replicated, the faster we will be climate change projections? modifications to things such as collected in your National many institutes also provide in the weather (see Community able to expand our coverage • Are you including the changing contingency planning; location Society’s national climate risk forecasts for specific threats, risk reduction). Such information in dealing effectively with the risks in training activities? and number of warehouses with assessment should contain such as the risk of health epi- can be an invaluable planning changing risks. • Are you informing communities response and relief stocks and the key information, which can demics, locusts or food security tool, particularly in areas where about the changing risks and tak- mobilization and training of a suf- then be integrated in planning problems. scientific data and analyses are Checklist ing them along in preparedness ficiently large volunteer base. documents for food security scarce and of poor quality. • Ensure your National Society has programmes? programmes and early warning. Make sure you are aware of such a climate change focal point who • Enhancing disaster risk reduction. information for your country. • Enhanced training. Regular DM can coordinate the integration of If you are using the guidelines For many National Societies, • Enhancing early warning. As The national meteorological training for staff and volunteers climate change into DM activities. for a Well Prepared National true risk reduction is strongly the climate changes, people office may be a good starting needs to include information • Assess you National Society Society, it would be good to go rooted at the community level may find that they can no longer point, and the Climate Centre on the way risks are changing. DM plans and programmes in the through these questions with (see the module Community “trust” the weather or recognize can also help you identify the The Climate Centre can provide light of your national climate-risk your National Society’s national risk reduction). In some National hazards as they used to. This right institutes for your region. standard formats and presenta- assessment, and establish pri- climate-risk assessment in mind. Societies, larger risk reduction creates an additional need to use At the global level, the DMIS also tions, which you will need to orities. (What needs to be done Again, climate change requires programmes, such as mangroves weather forecasts better – at the provides a number of monitoring adjust to your circumstances. differently? Where do we want to nothing new; it just adds an along the coast of Vietnam to National Society planning level tools and links. focus?) additional element to your reduce the risk of flooding, have and also by communicating Step 4: • Act! self-assessment. been very successful. In many them to communities at risk • Enhancing advocacy and Evaluation cases, similar solutions will be ef- and ensuring that people partnerships. Effective DM At least once a year, National Pitfalls These questions should be fective to address the rising risks really understand and trust the requires close cooperation Societies should evaluate the Don’t get overwhelmed by the discussed in regular planning from climate change. Keep in information. Be mindful of the with governments and many risks they face. This process many aspects of climate change. meetings involving the key mind that vulnerability to climate chain of efficient early warning: other actors, including other needs to be continuous. Have Just get started by realizing DM staff. In some cases, the change is often caused by many risk knowledge, monitoring and emergency-response agencies. new and/or unusual disasters that the past no longer explains answers may just alert you to factors, such as people living in warning services, dissemination Specific guidance on advocacy been occurring? New diseases, the future. Planning for climate pay additional attention to some unsuitable places, deforestation and communication, response and partnerships is included in new conflicts? New reasons for change is not something new hazards in the context of what and destruction of beaches. capability of people at risk. the module “Dialogues”. crop failure and food insecurity? and complicated – at all times it you are already doing. In other Addressing these underlying fac- Climate change does not really How has the National Society should remain rooted in your own cases, it may be a reason to tors can then help to reduce the alter the way a National Society • Enhancing awareness-raising dealt with them? Any need to priorities and understanding. start new programs, for instance impacts of the rising hazards. should organize such chains. But among vulnerable groups. update plans, start new activities, to increase the volunteer base. it does increase the importance Awareness raising about recruit more volunteers? Opportunities Among others, they may include • Enhancing food security of such activities in the face of new risks can be a key role Climate change can be a catalyst the specific activities suggested programmes. Climate change rising uncertainties about the of the National Society, using Such questions immediately refer for better DM. It may help to take in step 3, below. affects people’s livelihoods weather. its network and trust at the back to steps 1 and 2: updating a fresh look at your plans and 88 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Disaster Management: How-to guide Store employees install shutters for Hurricane Jeanne in Florida, USA. Photo: Reuters/Marc Serota
programmes and integrate new More general operational information and vulnerabilities. information, including appeals, It may also make it easier to information bulletins, operations mobilize new volunteers and updates and websites, can be establish partnerships with found at www.ifrc.org governments, donors and other stakeholders. Good examples of early warn- ing projects can be found at: The Red Cross and Red ww.unisdr-earlywarning.org/ewpp Crescent is well placed to address risk related to climate change. Climate change is a global problem with local impacts. The Red Cross and Red Crescent is present at global, national and above all local level. Tuning at all these levels can lead to good results in protecting the most vulnerable people.
Further information All information from this guide is available at www.climatecentre. org, including updates and links to relevant documents and sources of information, check- lists, templates and best-practice examples.
The main source of general information on disaster manage- ment for the Red Cross and Red Crescent is the International Federation’s Disaster Management Information System at www.ifrc.org/dmis, to which all Red Cross/Red Crescent staff have access. This system contains information on monitor- ing, preparedness, and response, as well as a toolbox with detailed guidance and information on policies and procedures. Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide Community risk reduction 92 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Community risk reduction After the August 2007 floods International Federation watsan officer Niaz Muhammed inspects work on a well in Koshkalat, Pakistan. Photo: Mubashir Fida/International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
South Asia showed the trend again in 2007, so did China. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan suffered massive monsoon rains, heavy flooding, tor- nadoes and landslides. Vast areas were devastated. West and East Africa were hit by equally devastating floods only a few weeks later. An early onset of China’s flood season overwhelmed southern parts of the country and, in the east, hundreds of thousands of villagers fled the worst flood on a major river in more than 50 years.
In the low-lying, flood-prone northern plains of Bangladesh, rural people awaited the onslaught. Among them were Red Crescent volunteers like Amirul Islam who understand conditions may get worse before they start to get better. They know threats from extreme weather are growing and that because of climate change bigger floods may well Community occur and more often.
risk reduction The options are limited. People can run. They can wait in despair for the worst to happen. Or they can reduce the impact of the inevitable inundation. The figures speak for themselves. Over the past decade, an average of 250 million people a year have Amirul and his friends have been showing local been affected by natural disasters, and those are the people they can do something. Close to the village ones we know about. Most disasters go unnoticed, of Sirahkunj the volunteers have planted some or at least they go uninvestigated. 300 trees – the start of a nursery – and, when big enough, they will be transplanted along river banks What may be catastrophic to one or two villages in and roadsides to help check the force of the flooding. less well-known parts of the world is often overlooked A modest move, perhaps, but in community terms it when annual Asian floods, or the hurricane seasons, is hugely significant. bring suffering to millions of people. But all disasters are serious and most are increasing, in number and As Amirul explained to villagers, the trees will help intensity, the smaller ones more rapidly than the big- improve their environment and help the community ger events. not only to survive but also to develop.
Globally over the decade from 1996 to 2005, the For a start their root spread will stabilize the earth in number of people reportedly affected by disasters which they are planted and help prevent the erosion was one third more than in the previous ten years, of precious topsoil that is so important for agriculture. the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of They will provide sustainable income as well for, when Disasters in Belgium tells us. For the first time in 30 mature, the trees will be felled and replaced by fresh years the number of people killed by disasters did not saplings. The wood will be sold on local markets with go down anymore. On the contrary, deaths from dis- the money going to the community. asters were up 84 per cent on the previous decade. They tripled in Oceania and more than doubled in the That is to say nothing of forestry’s role in balancing Americas. the effects of greenhouse gases. But most important Community risk reduction | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 95 94 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Community risk reduction
of all, the village will be less open to disaster. It will It was not climate change that caused the Viet Nam droughts. In her Quang Phu commune they built a be more resilient, bounce back more rapidly, cope Red Cross to start planting mangrove trees along small makeshift dam to protect their rice fields but better with adversity. And it isn’t alone. Across the the seashore in 1994. Extensive deforestation had floods repeatedly destroyed it and reconstruction was country, disaster risk reduction programmes from the robbed large coastal tracts of the mangrove they an annual event. Bangladesh Red Crescent are benefiting village after once had and exposed coastal inhabitants to the village. ravages of typhoons and storms. But as sea tem- When the Viet Nam Red Cross persuaded them to peratures and levels rise more severe meteorological conduct a VCA the dam emerged as the thing the They vary according to community needs, and hazards can be expected and the natural defences commune needed most. Almost everyone there is a include practical measures, such as raising the height restored by crucial community effort are more impor- farmer and water – not too much or too little – is what of wells to prevent the floods from swamping them tant than ever. they depend upon. Red Cross funding was provided and cutting people’s access to safe drinking water. “It isn’t that climate for a properly constructed one and the commune With them all comes a message: no matter where If the National Society wasn’t focused on climate quickly saw the benefits. “The dam has not collapsed you are and how huge the hazards there is always a change in 1994, it is today. The risks it brings could change alters the nature so the fields have not been flooded,” Pham The Phu way to diminish their menace. be disastrous still and while the mangrove pro- reported. “We can have two crops a year instead of gramme continues much more is underway. Back in of our risk-reduction one and the amount we harvested last time was 30 2003, the Viet Nam Red Cross began a pilot project activities but it does per cent higher than usual.” Containing menaces old and new to integrate climate change into its existing disaster- preparedness programmes, joining forces with the And when the rains did not come, there was still Netherlands Red Cross and Red Cross/Red Crescent raise matters of priority” water enough for irrigation. Behind the dam was a Reducing the risks that natural hazards bring is a Climate Centre in The Hague to start what senior NGUYEN HUNG THANG, VIET NAM simple reservoir. Red Cross/Red Crescent priority around the world, officer Nguyen Hung Thang describes as learning by and something National Societies are uniquely placed doing. It made much more sense than a water factory. to pursue because of their wide spread presence at But as the Red Cross’s Nguyen Hung Thang points the community level. “It isn’t,” he says, “that climate change alters the out when disasters happen people are prepared to nature of our risk-reduction activities but it does Nguyen Hung Thang says the greatest challenge is to discuss things. Getting them to prepare for possible It is why, over the five years from 2006 to 2010, the raise matters of priority, particularly at the community gain community understanding of why the Red Cross hurricanes in a community that has never seen one Red Cross/Red Crescent Global Agenda is intent on level.” is working on climate change, how it links to disaster remains a greater challenge. reducing the number of deaths, injuries and illnesses and has a negative effect on their lives. Raising aware- from disasters, diseases and public-health emergen- The effects of climate change on this country of ness about drought – a problem in many provinces cies along with their wider impact. It is why, at the 85 million people may be disastrous. In the past few – and how to reduce its consequences has posed Watch your language same time, it wants to increase local community, civil years Viet Nam has seen typhoons move faster, grow particular challenges. “People tend to ask for things society and Red Cross and Red Crescent ability to in intensity and make landfall to the south where they beyond our capability, like building a water factory.” deal with extreme vulnerability. were never felt with such strength. Coastal floods Diane Turnquest, Disaster Management Officer of the may already be reflecting sea-level rise and there The Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) – Bahamas Red Cross, understands that challenge. What humanitarians call community-based disaster have been more flash floods in mountain areas. a method developed by the International Federation Her advice: watch your language, honey. reduction (or, in the acronym-plagued parlance of Drought is worse in south central areas. All of these for communities themselves to weigh up the hazards disaster people, CBDR), is not exclusively about events could well be signs of more to come. they face and the capacity they have to deal with She never starts talking of climate change when she climate change, of course. Whether the measures them – helped the Red Cross through, he says. approaches a community, let alone uses a term as taken are to decrease the consequences of hydro- Viet Nam is one of the most typhoon-lashed nations exciting as vulnerability and capacity assessment. meteorological disasters (avalanches, landslides, in Asia. Every year an average of four typhoons and The process is an empowering one. With Red Cross/ You put people off, she says. droughts, famines, extreme temperatures, floods, many more storms wreak havoc on it but it is also Red Crescent guidance, villagers sit down and map fires, storms, wave surges) or geophysical ones very vulnerable to sea-level rise, which, over the past the dangers they face, analyse why they are vulner- “Where are the big fish?” she asks of fishermen (earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions) is 30 years, has been about five centimetres. Low-lying able to such hazards, and then develop concrete whose catches are getting smaller. immaterial. Good CBDR helps reduce the risks posed areas like the Mekong and Red River deltas are steps for an action plan. by climate change. Steps taken to contain an older densely populated and it is estimated millions of peo- Pham The Phu knows all about VCAs. She’s a farmer “Way out in the ocean these days.” menace can help contain new or increasing ones for ple would be displaced by the sea-level rise projected in Quang Binh province where extremes are the which extreme weather or warming is responsible. for the end of the century. name of the game – from heavy rains to extreme “Oh, why is that?” Community risk reduction | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 97 96 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Community risk reduction
West End, a storm-blasted community on Grand The Nicaraguan Red Cross has seen similar develop- Bahama Island, is a case in point. After three suc- ments along their Atlantic coast after introducing one cessive hurricanes had ravaged it, a luxurious new of the first climate change pilot programmes. Severe tourism development that had arisen nearby donated storms have hit the country frequently over the past an ambulance and a fire truck to the community. For decade and the National Society is helping com- the Bahamas Red Cross, busy so far with emergency munities face up to the threat of increasingly severe relief, it seemed an opportune moment for some hurricane seasons and extreme weather. self-assessment. VCAs have led to self-organization, and people “They think differently “What will you do with those vehicles?” they asked. knowing what to do when floods, bush fires and other catastrophes occur in their villages. now. It empowered the West End wasn’t sure. The ambulance was bare – it hadn’t come with equipment – and West End had Elsewhere, the Samoa Red Cross is using VCAs to community” no firemen. The community sat down to discuss the help vulnerable groups they have identified in the DIANE TURNQUEST, BAHAMAS options and a VCA got started. capital, Apia. Due to their social conditions, poverty and poor health they are particularly at risk from Other issues arose. Someone said, “It’s all a waste of climate change effects. A drift of rural people to time. You’ll never find a fire or an accident.” urban areas is ongoing and from its work in the social margins the National Society is convinced domestic “Why?” asked the Red Cross. migration exacerbated by climate change will chal- lenge time-honoured systems and thinking and “Our streets have no names. We have no addresses.” disrupt support structures.
The conversation turns to the bleaching of the coral, Turnquest suggested, “Maybe we’d better go get And in Mozambique – hit every year by at least one a deadly process threatening the Caribbean and the some.” cyclone and strong tropical storms that contribute Pacific. Coral reefs are very sensitive to increased to increasingly common and severe flooding – the water temperature. As the oceans warm, the corals, A few days later, dressed in their finest clothes West Red Cross emphasizes respect for local tradition as it and their delicate ecosystems, are dying and the reef Enders accompanied her to the city of Freeport, 65 involves community members in data collection, risk fish and marine animals living, breeding and feeding kilometres away, to see the Director of Public Works. mapping and planning. there are disappearing. The destruction affects tour- The community was moving. Soon it would be ism as well. mobilized. Globally, risk and vulnerability to natural disaster is increasing but from within the community there is “It’s a conversation you can have with any fisher- They got their street names, got excited, got firemen always a chance to turn the tide. man,” Turnquest says. “Know your culture, know to train a volunteer brigade. They developed an the people, know the language to use, know how to evacuation plan, mapped the locations of the old, the introduce what you want to do by adapting it to local frail and the handicapped, ensured care for the needy circumstance.” in emergencies.
A guiding principle to climate change and VCA is Diane Turnquest says: “You had a community that always keep it simple. Keep in mind what the com- had come to accept the hurricanes. They thought: munity can understand in terms of their own context. they’ll hit us again, that’s life, there’s nothing anyone can do about it. They think differently now and what Bahamians, Turnquest says, are indifferent to they have done they have done themselves, which depressing conversation, averse to such thoughts as is what the VCA was about. It empowered the com- beautiful islands slowly sinking. Getting stronger is munity, and put value on their abilities. They are doing more the kind of language they appreciate. their own thing now. They don’t need outsiders.” 98 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Community risk reduction: How-to guide People gather to get water from a huge well in the village of Natwarghad, India. Photo: Reuters/Amit Dave
Community risk reduction How-to guide
All around the world, the Red A good instrument for such However, a key guiding principle Cross and Red Crescent dialogue is the Vulnerability and should be to KEEP IT SIMPLE: stands ready to respond, Capacity Assessment (VCA), • Keep in mind that people are and to advocate for speedy a set of tools developed by the likely to have already noticed recovery and reconstruction. But International Federation to help changes in weather patterns. disaster response, recovery and communities assess and address • Keep in mind what the commu- reconstruction are not enough. the risks they are facing. nity can grasp in terms of their Besides better early-warning local context. systems and preparedness to This section is aimed at National • Keep in mind what the facilitators respond, we are trying to reduce Society staff and volunteers doing the VCAs can absorb and the risk of disasters, by making working on disaster manage- communicate. people aware of the hazards they ment and risk reduction at the face and helping them to reduce community level, and discusses Local people are the experts their own vulnerability. Climate how they can integrate climate on their own risks. All you may change has made such efforts change into their work. need to do is ask what they have more urgent. observed regarding unusual The approach: keeping it weather events, briefly explain The Red Cross and Red simple why the climate is changing Crescent can build on a key Good CBDR helps reduce the globally, and help them decide asset: its network and a risks of climate change, even on how to respond locally. grassroots community presence. when climate is not explicitly It is at community level that addressed. Many measures to Keeping it simple is even more disasters affect people’s lives reduce other dangers also help important because a key chal- and livelihoods. But it is also lessen new or growing threats lenge with CBDR is to reach a there that many simple things brought on by climate itself. large number of communities. It can be done to reduce their is nice to spend time and energy impact. Community Risk CBDR, however, can be even on helping a few really well, but Reduction, or in full Community- more effective by directly ad- the challenge is to scale up, based disaster reduction (CBDR) dressing climate change. First, provide assistance to all your has become an important part the threats involved are added country’s vulnerable people. of the disaster-management motivation for a community to You cannot do that if weeks and activities of many national Red act. Second, some risk-reduction weeks are spent preparing each Cross /Red Crescent societies. measures and strategies may VCA or several highly qualified need to adjust to new or increas- headquarters staff are required to Helping communities to reduce ing risks. conduct the discussions. To have their vulnerability does not mean a wide impact the approach must telling them what to do, or Incorporating climate change be simple enough to be applied installing some protective infra- into VCAs to plan disaster by our local volunteers. structure. It is about facilitating a reduction may seem com- dialogue about local concerns, plicated: introducing tricky and helping people to define their scientific information and a host own priorities for risk reduction. of additional considerations. Community risk reduction: How-to guide | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 101 100 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Community risk reduction: How-to guide
face in the future. But explaining • Risk map (or transect walk): ask Analysing the results assist them in discussing options of extreme precipitation (above Step by step: that information and making it people to describe not only the After the VCA, the team should to reduce their risks. the 90th percentile in the current integrating relevant can be a challenge. current situation in a particular analyse the community’s informa- distribution) will decrease by at place but also how it has been tion, particularly documenting When preparing and conducting least 10 per cent”. Force climate climate change So the team preparing the VCA changing. the way they have described the VCA, just follow the steps of experts to explain what they into CBDR should decide beforehand how • Questionnaires and focus group new risks or trends in weather Option A. In addition, the training mean, and to translate it into basic or complex the integra- discussions: add special ques- patterns. should include a presentation on language that facilitators and and VCAs tion of climate change should tions such as, “Have you noticed climate change and its implica- communities will understand. be. Below are three options to unusual weather patterns?” If possible, you should cross- tions in the local context. The Step 1: choose from. and “How did that weather compare those community information is generally based OPTION C (ADVANCED): Collecting general background affect you, your family and your observations with the scientific on the national risk assessment Helping communities to plan information. By default: keep it simple community?” information from your society’s done at national society head- for the future by bringing (Option A). More detailed national climate-risk assessment. quarters, and adapted to the cir- in outside information on Step 2: discussions on climate change Preparations Assess whether risk reduction cumstances of the communities climate change Assessing priorities. should only be included when the You do not need to include any strategies identified in the VCA where the VCA will take place. In this option, VCA facilitators are These two steps are typically National Society has clear and new scientific climate information are robust in the face of climate explicitly instructed to discuss undertaken as part of a broader relevant information about how in the VCA process: it is enough change trends suggested by During preparations, try to climate change with the com- assessment of the changing risks are changing at the local to clearly communicate, after scientific reports. tailor relevant climate change munity. It requires much more risks a country faces (see Getting level, and skilled facilitators are eliciting observed changes from information (for instance, from expertise and experience, and Started: How-to guide, step 3) available to discuss this comfort- participants, that people all over OPTION B (INTERMEDIATE): the national risk assessment) to should only be chosen if you are and priorities within the overall ably with the communities. the world are reporting similar Provide climate information the specific situation of the VCA. confident you have the informa- disaster-management activities of changes, and that scientists tell as a backgrounder for VCA Keep in mind that the general tion, training capacity, support a National Society (see Disaster OPTION A (BASIC): Getting us that things are likely to get facilitators climate information needs to be materials and experienced management: How-to guide, additional information from worse in the coming decades. Option B is similar to Option A, examined from the local perspec- volunteers who will be comfort- steps 1 and 2). the community, by asking the During preparations, all that but with the additional element tive: what might the changes able doing it. The prioritization should consider right questions needs to be done differently is that facilitators are briefed on mean for the location/com- the selection of areas/communi- Make sure that the VCA asks the to include questions such as the climate change so they are aware munity? This should be done in The process is similar to Option ties to be targeted for CBDR right questions to get information ones above in the VCA materials of the context when they conduct general terms, written down on B, but during the training you and VCAs, guided (among about unusual climate phenom- (checklists, tools, etc.). the VCA. The intention is simply one page, in simple language, should not only convey key other things) by the way climate ena and trends that the com- to provide them with background such as: information about climate change change is affecting particular munity is experiencing, or has VCA training information, not that facilitators “The rainfall may come in heavier to the facilitators but also enable parts of the country. seen happening over the past The training needs to pay atten- should “explain” climate change, bursts, and there may be longer them to really understand it and decades. This requires attention tion to the additional questions and the changing risks, to the periods without rain”, explain it to communities. This Step 3: to a number of VCA tools that to be asked, and how to use the communities. “Storms may be stronger than is not easy! Most importantly, Conducting VCAs examine trends, particularly: answers to improve dialogue before”, the training must also provide Integrating climate change into • Seasonal calendar: ask whether with communities. For aware- This places more demands on “The rainy season may start guidance on how to carefully VCAs can be done in a very seasons have been changing, ness raising, it might be good to training and development of later”. introduce changing risks into the simple way. The main purpose for instance if the rainy season is inform them about global climate communication materials (such VCA discussions. of the VCA is to discuss the risks starting particularly early or late, change, but it should be stressed as posters or video tools). There You may need to ask for help a community faces so they can or if weather that used to occur that there is no expectation that is a risk of misleading communi- from a climate expert, but make Without proper guidance, com- identify their priorities for risk in one season is now occurring they discuss these issues during ties if volunteers wrongly interpret sure that the analysis stays rele- munities may be tempted to start reduction. in another. the VCA. scientific information or errone- vant to Red Cross/Red Crescent labeling every weather-related This does not depend on • Historical calendar: ask about ously guide the VCA’s outcomes needs. “Increasing risk of flood” problem they have faced as complicated scientific informa- systematic changes in tempera- Conducting the VCA in a particular direction. However, is better than “six out of seven “climate change”. This is unhelp- tion, although sometimes it ture, rainfall and other weather Include the suggestions listed it can help the facilitators to have of the best climate models agree ful. All we want to accomplish is can be discussed to confront a events; as well as occurrences of above. a more meaningful dialogue with that there is at least a 70 per cent to increase their understanding of community with what they may “strange” weather phenomena. the communities, and to better probability that the return period their circumstances, and explain Community risk reduction: How-to guide | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 103 102 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Community risk reduction: How-to guide
that some unusual patterns and Step 5: • Have you kept it simple? Opportunities events are not necessarily unique Evaluation • Does the scope of the VCA fit Climate change provides a results of supernatural forces: Given that risks are continu- the capacities of the staff and strong incentive for more and they are likely to be part of a ously changing, it is important volunteers involved? better CBDR, because it helps global trend that will go on oc- to regularly evaluate the • Does the plan of action that re- communities not only to identify curring. And more importantly, to National Society’s CBDR sults from the VCA respond the changing risks they are help the community to consider programmes. Evaluation should to the trends in risk that were facing, but also to realize their what they can do about the new be a continuous process. Have identified? growing importance and identify risks they face. climate-related programmes • Have you thought about how ways to reduce them. It can been targeted at the right areas? to evaluate and scale up the strengthen the Red Cross/ This dialogue requires learning- Are they reaching a sufficient outcomes, reaching not just a Red Crescent relationship by-doing, including simulations number of vulnerable people? few communities but many? with communities because the or other exercises that force the And, particularly if new threats or National Society can really help. facilitators to practice. diseases have occurred, is there Pitfalls a need to update the priorities? Climate change may seem Further information Step 4: daunting and complicated, and All information from this guide is Implementing CBDR In this evaluation, there is a spe- many National Societies may available on www.climatecentre. To some extent, the VCA may cial role for the information from feel uncomfortable discussing org, including updates and links already have resulted in en- the VCAs. Local communities it with communities. Volunteers to relevant documents and hanced awareness and disaster may report changing risks that doing the VCAs may find the sources of information, check- risk reduction by the communi- may not yet have been picked up scientific information confusing lists, templates and best practice ties themselves. To some extent, by the National Society at head- and, in turn, risk confusing the examples. it may also help plan further Red quarters level or by the relevant communities, rather than helping Cross/Red Crescent material government institutions. them. The main source of general assistance (such as the construc- information on CBDR and VCAs tion of shelters, communications In addition, it is important to If this is the feeling you have, is the International Federation’s equipment, seedlings for return regularly to communities take a step back and simplify. website: www.ifrc.org. reforestation to prevent flooding, where a VCA has taken place to The science of climate change and water-catchment systems) or check on follow-up and maintain does not need to be discussed Further general information on improved community processes a continuous dialogue on the with the community. You don’t community risk assessments (such as plans for disaster risks they face and the way these need to enter into a dialogue (CRAs) from other organizations management, or diversification can be reduced. about weather statistics. All you is available from the ProVention of the local economy to reduce need to discuss is the fact that Consortium’s CRA toolkit on vulnerability to droughts). In some It is important to document risks may be changing. Just www.proventionconsortium.org cases, follow-up may involve information from VCAs, as well asking questions about changes partnership with NGOs and local as the experiences (positive and and trends in the weather may be government, and advocacy negative) from actual CBDR enough to raise people’s aware- regarding local and national programmes. The more such ness, and trigger them to thinking policies, for instance on safe examples are shared and the about reducing their vulnerability. shelters, building codes or joint successful ones replicated, the risk-awareness programmes. faster we will be able to expand Planning for climate change is Such things are no different to our coverage, dealing effectively not new and complicated. It regular CBDR activities – except with changing risks. should remain rooted in your that when climate change local priorities and understanding. has been taken into account, Checklist activities are planned with the • Are you addressing the new risks Don’t be overwhelmed, just get changing risks in mind. in your CBDR programmes? started and keep it simple. A woman stands outside her house damaged by Hurricane Dean in the town of Tecolutla, Mexico. Photo: Reuters/Tomas Bravo Case Study: Nicaragua | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 107 106 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Case Study: Nicaragua
astonishingly brave decision. “We thought, ‘We’re all against hope their relatives might emerge from the going to die here’,” he recalled. “At about three in the keys alive; or that there might be some confirmation morning the wind got stronger still, picking up the of their fate, or perhaps just a body. boat and rocking it to and fro. As one side fell, I yelled at people to move to the other as ballast.” Krukira – a miracle? “At five I thought we probably had an hour to go. The wind felt like mortar fire, like a landslide, but I told them, ‘We’ve beaten it. Hang on’.” The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami placed the eye of Hurricane Felix “about 15 kilometres When the worst of the storm passed, Simón north-north-east of Puerto Cabezas”, and that, to the initially thought they’d been carried somewhere else. kilometre, is where Krukira lies. The Miskito village “Everything had disappeared,” he said. “But then I of some 2,500 souls took the full force of Hurricane recognized a wooden beam and we saw it all: bodies Felix’s Category-5 winds – at least 250 kilometres an floating in the sea, injured people, a community that hour – after it scythed through the Mosquito Keys. no longer existed.” Krukira is also one of the places where Red Cross disaster-preparedness workshops have been held as Bitter recrimination followed the disaster in the keys. part of the climate change project. Some Miskitos accused the government of doing too little to warn people, too little to evacuate them Category-5s fit the popular stereotype of what a Case Study: Nicaragua and too little to search for survivors and, ultimately, “hurricane” is – a massively strong wind – better than, bodies. for example, Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which made landfall only as a Category-1 but wrought destruc- In September 2007 Hurricane Felix present- the Cayos Miskitos (the Miskito Keys) and But it seemed harsh to blame the Nicaraguan navy tion through the flash floods it caused in, above all, ed the Red Cross climate change projects their families, who were decimated by the for the disaster: even a first-world navy equipped with Honduras and Nicaragua. in Nicaragua with both vindication and their hurricane as it swept across them early enough fast, light patrol craft would have been hard greatest challenge. Tuesday morning, 4 September. pressed to find and evacuate all the divers and fisher- One chilling fact, at the time of writing, makes the men scattered among the keys in their small boats 2007 hurricane season exceptional: after Hurricane Vindication because the projects, through- and pangas, in darkness. Dean, Felix was the second Category-5 storm in the Simón McDavis Pablo, a Miskito captain who has region in less than a month, and the NHC said it was out their four-year history, have been spent 30 of his 44 years at sea and may emerge The tragedy of the keys was that the lobster and hur- the first time two Category-5s had made landfall in a tightly focused on preparing people for as the greatest unsung hero of Hurricane Felix in ricane seasons overlap: some reports said the lobster single season since record-keeping began in 1886. the unexpected; and about one aspect Nicaragua, bitterly regrets not being able to save boats had refused to heed warnings; or that boatmen of the hurricane all Nicaraguans were in more lives than he did. Anchored in the Maras had been unable to turn for the mainland because Visiting Krukira a few days after Felix, it seemed agreement: it was a total shock. Keys, just over 40 nautical miles from the mainland, divers were submerged. nothing short of miraculous no one died there and McDavis was hoping to be able to ride out the only five people were injured. The village looks as if it A new challenge because, although storm with the 170 people – lobster catchers and A Nicaraguan officer leading the last search for has been carpet bombed: its few concrete structures disaster preparedness workshops held up their families – who had crammed onto his boat, the bodies a week after Felix said only that the navy had – including a church and a school – lost their roofs and down the Mosquito Coast undoubt- Mrs Julies, for shelter as the weather deteriorated on evacuated “a large number of people” on Monday and their windows. The villagers’ houses, many of Monday evening. edly saved lives (as is evidenced below), but that “others” had opted to stay put to look after them “tambos” on stilts, were either blown to tinder the effort of the Red Cross and others their equipment. He added that many fishermen had or demolished down to floor level (but, importantly, Warned not of a hurricane but only “very strong been widely dispersed and out of radio contact. often not right down to ground level). Trees have to prepare Nicaraguan society for the winds”, he insisted to El Nuevo Diario a week later, he been splintered or completely felled. The ground is impacts of climate change did not include realized he would have to weigh anchor and take his More than a week after Felix, Miskito people were still soaked from rain but there was no flood. a group more vulnerable even than the chances in open water: Felix was tearing up anything congregating at the harbour of Puerto Cabezas – the long-neglected villages of the Atlantic solid and turning trees into airborne battering rams. capital of the Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte, “We’d been listening to the news about the hurricane coast: the seasonal lobster fishermen of A five-hour struggle for survival followed that known as “the RAAN” in Nicaragua. They hoped since ten that morning, and by seven in the evening Case Study: Nicaragua | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 109 108 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Case Study: Nicaragua
it was getting serious,” recalls Junior Wislaw Radis, a number in the school and elsewhere, a majority of in living memory we’ve been through anything like now-urgent need on the Mosquito Coast for buildings teacher at Krukira’s school, now a roofless shell. Krukira’s people sat the hurricane out in (or under) this. But now, after Felix, they’ve learnt a lot.” to be properly surveyed to determine which should their homes, doing whatever seemed sensible in the be used as hurricane shelters. Or what people should “The regional government was broadcasting advice circumstances. In the absence of flood, the chief With a total population of some 50,000 potentially do if they cannot get into shelters. about what to do if the storm reached hurricane dangers were collapsing structures and flying debris. needing to be moved to shelters “we faced limita- strength. “At one in the morning, Puerto Cabezas tions”, says Fox. “We didn’t have sufficient resources Had one of the concrete buildings in either Twapy or sent us two buses to evacuate people who wanted “I didn’t come to the church or the school but stayed to evacuate everybody so some people arranged Krukira collapsed there would probably have been to go to town. About 500 people went and 2,000 of in my house with my family,” says Junior Wislaw their own evacuation. scores of deaths. Where adequate shelters cannot b us stayed here. Radis. “When it started to collapse we stayed under built, research should be carried out to compare the the tambo with several other families. There were five “I would say about 70 per cent evacuated and 30 safety of concrete structures and traditional tambos “No one was actually leading – it was really just the children in there, all under six – but thank God none per cent stayed put. But there just aren’t sufficient for people to face the threats of strong winds and news that suggested what we needed to do. But of them was injured.” shelters for everyone in the built-up area.” floods. emergency-committee members were warning people who didn’t have radios, and by seven people Both men agree the Red Cross workshops were val- Another bus made it to Krukira’s neighbouring vil- were taking shelter in the church and the school. uable: the disaster-preparedness sessions, focused lage, Twapy, which now also looks as if it has been Radio alert on the consequences of extreme weather, will have systematically demolished with explosive charges, “There are lots of over-sixties in this village and none planted a seed that grew into a glimmer of recogni- but is nevertheless just recognizable as a once-idyllic of them has ever seen anything like this before.” tion when Felix began its run in and the wind became Miskito settlement. The bus made two runs to On one other aspect of the Hurricane Felix story there seismic. The workshops will have given people a bit Puerto Cabezas. is widespread agreement: the main means by which more time to think; a little less cause to panic. news of the storm’s approach was disseminated was “Panic, terror” Erlinda Urvina, president of Twapy’s emergency on ordinary FM radio. “They helped us prepare for an uncertain future, committee, relates essentially the same sequence helped us to be willing to take refuge and save of events: increasingly worrying radio news stories; One such station is Radio Caribe, a partner in Besides hearing from the radio, people in Krukira ourselves,” says Wislaw. people crowding into the concrete communal dining the HIER climate-change project with the Dutch and other Miskito villages realized the situation was hall; some getting away by bus; then, for the rest, a organization Freevoice. Director Kenny Lisby Johnson serious when the church bells were rung – the time- People evidently did not just panic; young men, night of almost paralyzing terror as the hurricane tore explained that the first forecasts saying Hurricane honoured way of sounding the alarm on the Mosquito for example, went round gathering up elderly people through. Felix would hit their part of the coast emerged on Coast. and shepherding them to the church. “The training Saturday and were broadcast straight away. The red organised here by the Red Cross helped a lot,” “Just before eleven we started ringing the church alert came around midnight on Monday. Krukira’s relatively imposing Moravian church is adds Pastor Rivera. “It gave us direction, information, bell,” she says, “and people came quickly, with their certainly the most obvious place to take shelter, but strategies about how to act in a natural disaster children and their old folk. We said the very young “After the emergency committee was activated on even that didn’t feel entirely safe, according to Pastor – before and after.” and the very old should be evacuated first, and Monday morning, the authorities started passing by Romero Rivera Bayardo. “There were about 200 everyone accepted that.” to give official warnings and alerts,” he says. “We people here in the church and about a hundred in the But the lesson of Felix, on this part of the coast at were on the air until the hurricane made landfall parsonage,” he says. “Mostly women, children and least, seems to be not only that people won’t evacu- Urvina is unsure how many people managed to shelter and hit our antenna, which was almost completely the elderly. ate – they will if adequately – but that evacuation in in the dining hall. On the Miskito Coast, populations destroyed.” very high winds is meaningful only to the extent that are usually enumerated in terms of families rather than “If the peak winds had lasted another hour or so, transport is available. individuals. There are 145 families in Twapy. Lisby believes the warnings paid off: “Many people I really think people would have died of fright. They were evacuated in time or had the common sense to couldn’t have taken any more. The very walls were “I couldn’t count, given everything that was happen- evacuate under their own steam. The training people shaking. People were lying on the ground. There was Only one bus ing, but it couldn’t take everyone and some people have received on what to do in disasters has helped.” panic, terror, and – after the rains came down – cold. had to stay in their homes. I reckon there were about Now they need psychological assistance to recover 300 people in there. It was full, completely full.” Other radio stations, like La Voz Evangélica de la their spirits. Puerto Cabezas had its own problems that night, as Costa Atlántica, were in direct touch with the NHC in Guillermo Fox, a disaster-prevention official with the Despite Miskito tradition, people in Twapy did not Miami. “Our antenna fell some time between four and With 500 people evacuated by bus, some 300 town council recalls: “The people honestly weren’t take refuge in the church, fearing its roof and perhaps five in the morning,” says director Salvador Sarmiento sheltering in church buildings and possibly a similar quite sure what was happening. This is the first time its steeple would fall in on them, highlighting a Alvarado. “But the roof is mostly intact.” Case Study: Nicaragua | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 111 110 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Case Study: Nicaragua
Francisco Osejo, a Red Cross volunteer and a techni- also getting more Category-4 and -5 storms in the Francisco Osejo also draws attention to the drought Fatalism cal assistant on the climate project based in Puerto region”. This as opposed to Hurricane Stan, for ex- areas. “It’s affecting the north especially,” he says, Cabezas, spent much of the week immediately after ample, a relatively weak Category-1 that was actually “the area around the town of Ocotal, Estelí, Nueva Felix helping to ferry casualties from the airport and embedded in a system of rainstorms that deluged the Segovia, parts of Chinandega and León. In the last The Atlantic region of Honduras and Nicaragua is seaport to medical facilities in the town. In terms of Central American isthmus in 2005 causing flooding few years the drought has got worse and people remote and inaccessible, hundreds of miles from community response, he saw one clear improvement and mudslides and up to 2,000 deaths. have lost a lot of crops and that’s giving rise to nutri- the two countries’ capitals, on inadequate and not over Hurricane Beta two years ago: the neighbour- tional problems too.” entirely safe roads, through jungle and mountain hood committees where the project has been work- Just before Hurricane Felix bore down on the Atlantic areas. It has long been below the radar of central ing asked for proper data sheets they could use to coast earlier this year, Ramon Arnesto Sosa, head A new Netherlands Red Cross-backed programme is governments in Managua and Tegucigalpa. provide information on damage and losses. of Nicaragua’s main disaster-prevention agency, told getting underway in the north-east now. reporters in Managua that some 50,000 people were Nicaragua was originally chosen to pioneer the Red According to Osejo: “It’s very important that people particularly at risk because, of necessity, they lived Scientists at Ineter believe the most significant fall Cross climate-change project because of its geo- know what climate change is and what they can do “beside rivers or on hillsides or small islands”. But he in annual precipitation might come in the already graphical position, its poverty, and above all because to meet the threat. It affects everyone at different cannot have been sure whether the greatest danger dry north-west. Rainfall in the central and southern of the acute vulnerability of its fragile coastal and levels,” he says. was from wind or flood or both. Pacific region could fall from a maximum of 1,800mm riverside populations. per year to just 1,000mm – significantly increasing “Despite the extensive damage, the human casual- Up In Smoke, Latin America and the Caribbean, the the total drought-affected area. This was in keeping with the very good Red Cross ties have been minimal in the areas where we’re third (2006) report from the working group on climate idea that if better disaster preparedness in response working.” change and development in the United Kingdom, But the best data Ineter has shows the climate in to climate-change impacts can be put in place there, points out that Central American governments are parts of Nicaragua, at least, was already drying out, then it can be done anywhere. less centralized than Cuba’s – often regarded as a so climate change can only exacerbate this. The hurricane signal model of compulsory evacuation in the face of hur- When Cony Silva Martinez, a psychologist by profes- ricane threats – and “the risks faced are more varied The bad news for the Miskito people is that the sion, began work as the Managua-based coordinator and widespread, the populations larger and more “dry” area actually snakes east, out from the broiling of the project, she knew the Nicaraguan Red Cross All unprecedented disasters expose new areas of dispersed. Corruption is also a problem.” north-west to encompass many of their isolated and in the field would need to meet the challenge of what vulnerability. vulnerable settlements strung along the 800-kilometre she calls the “religiously-based fatalism” of all rural “There can be a lack of political will in national River Coco that serves as the border with Honduras. Central Americans. What Hurricane Felix seems to have established in governments for reducing risks to the poorest,” the Nicaragua is that it is not enough just to prepare for report adds. But (and the evidence of the Red Cross In May, journalist Annie Kelly of the Guardian reported “But on the Atlantic coast at least,” Silva adds, storm surges and floods. Strategies have to be devel- climate change programme surely bears this out from San Carlos – a river settlement deep in the “where the danger comes from hurricanes, people oped for coping with catastrophically high winds (the in the case of Nicaragua) “willingness to improve Central American interior – that almost a month into are beginning to see that the disasters they need to Netherlands-financed shelter in Betania collapsed preparedness often exists, particularly at local level”. the rainy season, when it would normally be “a swirl- worry about aren’t entirely natural.” because it was built on stilts, on high ground, with ing torrent”, the river was “ankle-deep and dugout floods in mind) and for situations where evacuation is boats struggle to negotiate their way upstream”. Cony Silva began working with the Red Cross as a not possible. Drought psychologist in the immediate aftermath of Hurrican In the village of Siksayari, home to 1,400 Miskito Mitch, helping people rebuild their lives. She is In many Miskito villages in the RAAN, people stayed people, a volunteer technician from the Nicaraguan acutely aware of the importance of the psychological in or under their homes because there was nothing Asked bluntly what he thinks the evidence for climate agriculture ministry said people had been without element in awareness-raising – crucial to the climate- to evacuate in and nowhere to evacuate to – or the change in Nicaragua is, Mauricio Rosales’s answer basic supplies like salt and drinking water for more change programmes on the Atlantic coast. buildings thought safe were full. is shifting agricultural seasons. “The main thing,” than a month. “There are no roads,” he said. he explains, “is that in all parts of the country where Despite the tragedy of the Miskito Keys, where Mauricio Rosales, director general of meteorology at they sow crops, the sowing season has changed. “Nobody expected the river to dry up and now people who missed a certain deadline to evacuate the Instituto Nicaragüense de Estudios Territoriales supply boats can’t get down here. At the moment the probably sealed their fate, the provisional conclusion (Ineter), says there’s been “an increase in the “The air temperature is rising, and the difference be- water is too polluted and diseases like cholera and after Hurricane Felix must be that it has highlighted number of seasonal Caribbean hurricanes” – citing tween the minimum temperature and the maximum tuberculosis are rising.” the Miskitos’ will to survive in their isolated territories. the record-breaking 2005 season – “but we’re temperature is narrowing.” 112 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Case Study: Nicaragua Damage by Hurricane Felix in Krukira, Nicaragua. Virtually everything built of wood collapsed. The few buildings left intact were concrete. Photo: Alex Wynter/International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
“Our Nicaraguan colleagues are telling us we must try to reach younger people with disaster preparedness messages,” says Esther Barend, the Guatemala- based coordinator of the Netherlands Red Cross climate projects in Central America, who arrived in Managua the day before Felix struck.
But, after Felix, which messages? “The original vulnerability assessments we carried out suggested people were most afraid of floods,” says Barend. “But Felix was a Category-5 wind, and on the coast at least there weren’t many floods.”
The reality now is that there might actually be a conflict between flood preparedness and high-wind preparedness. “The last place you want to be in a Category-5 hurricane is on high ground in a raised building,” Barend adds. “Felix has thrown down a major challenge to this project, but it’s one we’re determined to meet.” Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide Health and Care 116 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Health and Care A Netherlands Red Cross volunteer providing water during a heatwave. The risk of such heatwaves is rising rapidly due to climate change. Photo: Netherlands Red Cross
There and elsewhere: “Those at greater risk include the urban poor, the elderly and children, traditional societies, subsistence farmers and coastal populations.”
Very few national Red Cross/Red Crescent socie- ties will be untouched by the health implications of climate change. In particular health fields – malaria prevention, for example – National Societies may suddenly find themselves doing more, perhaps much more, of the same work in the same place; or pos- sibly the same work in a completely new location.
Or they may face quite new challenges altogether – like “killer” heatwaves in northern Europe.
Hot and hotter still
Health and Care When tens of thousands of people gathered early one morning in July 2006 in the Dutch city of Nijmegen for the annual competitive walk of up to 50 kilometres, Throughout human history climate and health have they were already cursing the heat, which rose rapidly been inextricably linked. Certain kinds of climate above 30 °C. By the end of the first of the planned – moderate ones, broadly speaking, warm but not four days, two walkers had died of heatstroke and too hot, with low humidity and fresh breezes – were hundreds more had been taken ill. It was a totally seen as innately healthy. Weather extremes, by unprecedented turn of events. definition, are potentially injurious to health – if not life and limb. The temperature in Nijmegen was forecast to rise to 36 °C and the organizers, facing a terrible dilemma, The latest (2007) report from the Intergovernmental decided to cancel the rest of the event – the first Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that “climate time that weather shut the walk down since the start change currently contributes to the global burden of nearly a century ago. disease and premature deaths” (see table below). And it will continue to do so: increased malnutrition According to Fleur Engel of the Netherlands Red and consequent disorders, with implications for Cross (NRC), heatwaves were then “not seen as a child growth and development, can be expected. major risk, despite the severe European heatwave of There will be more deaths, disease and injury from 2003, which claimed up to 1,400 Dutch lives” and heatwaves, floods, storms, fires and droughts. more than 33,000 in the rest of Europe, mainly elderly people. The far more familiar climate threat in the Studies in temperate areas have shown that climate Netherlands, of course, a delta of three rivers, half of change is projected to bring some benefits, such as whose territory lies below sea level, is flood, not heat. fewer deaths from cold exposure. But “overall”, the scientists add, “these benefits will be outweighed The Netherlands Red Cross and the Red Cross/Red by the negative health effects of rising temperatures Crescent Climate Centre in The Hague had in 2004 worldwide, especially in developing countries”. started an education programme on climate change Health and Care | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 119 118 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Health and Care
volunteers to visit elderly people, sweltering alone The National Society in Malawi has focused its efforts at improving domestic sanitation. With emergency in their apartments, or distribute bottled water to on the provision of shelter by pre-positioning tents in funding from the International Federation, volunteers motorists stuck in traffic – like they did in Romania, flood-prone districts across the country. As the rainy were able to use megaphones and play educational for example, during the intense 2007 heatwave in season ends, households rebuild and the Red Cross videos on market days and at religious and cultural south-east Europe. tents can be stored for future use. meetings.
In Europe, and especially northern Europe, where The rapid succession of drought followed by flood The message from Uganda: cholera can be beaten. deadly heatwaves have been a rarity, it may followed by drought again is creating new “complex” get significantly worse. British scientists at the emergencies in Africa – almost permanent disaster Meteorological Office’s Hadley Centre report that by conditions, according to Abdishakur Othowai, Rift Valley Fever and Tanzania’s “There is a need for the 2040s, the 2003 European heatwave (the hottest drought project manager at the Kenya Red Cross and deadliest ever) might seem normal. Society. Large numbers of people are being dis- silent disaster psychological support placed and ending up in camps where the HIV rate But what of the poorer south, the “low-latitude” tropi- soars. Julius Kejo, who runs disaster preparedness for the for those who lose their cal countries where – most observers agree – climate Tanzanian Red Cross, remembers they were very change impacts will be far more damaging? “Our policy,” he says, “is to tell people that we have lucky to have been hosting some guests from Kenya property through floods” to adapt, because this phenomenon will be with us at about the time Rift Valley Fever (RVF) was first ETHEL KAIMILA, MALAWI In sub-Saharan Africa there is something occurring for a very long time.” spotted in humans during the recent outbreak. that could be described as drought-flood-drought, and it is already claiming many thousands of lives. Robert Akankwasa, head of disaster management The Kenyans, much more familiar with RVF and its at the Ugandan Red Cross, points out that Ugandan symptoms, realized that cattle urinating blood in weather records from the 1960s and 1970s are “to- a village they were visiting were suffering from the Africa: drought-!ood-drought tally different” to the present, yet people are not clear potentially fatal viral disease, which is also spread by for branches in which volunteers gave presentations about whether this is a symptom of full-scale climate infected mosquitoes and can be caught by humans. linking climate change and work for vulnerable change or just a blip. A little later the fears were confirmed when they heard people at home and abroad. The NRC contacted the Ethel Kaimila, programme coordinator of the Malawi of five confirmed cases in the same area. government and it was agreed that a national plan Red Cross, believes that life expectancy in her coun- Either way, there is little debate about one lethal for both heatwaves and cold waves would be devel- try has fallen to 39 partly because of the repeated by-product of the worsening floods in the country: “The communities were not getting the right informa- oped, says Engel, “but after a few meetings early in droughts, which fit the pattern of climate change. cholera. “Now we have increasing cases of cholera tion on how to prevent the spread of the disease,” 2006 there was still little sense of urgency”. Later that “Now the boreholes are dry,” she says. “Skin condi- every rainy season,” says Akankwasa, “within mainly Julius recalls, “so as Red Cross what we could do year, after two heatwaves during the summer, things tions get out of control due to lack of water, scabies urban areas”. This is probably caused by a combina- was prepare leaflets carrying proper information.” finally changed for good, and the national heatwave is on the increase. tion of climate change and unregulated construction plan was written. intensifying dangerous rainwater “run-off”. But the disease did eventually spread to ten adminis- “There is a need for psychological support for those trative regions of Tanzania, killing nearly half the more This plan is the result of good cooperation between who lose their property through floods: they do Ugandan Red Cross workers, however, are optimistic than 300 people infected, according to the authori- different institutions and the NRC. It targets those not understand why it is happening so frequently. about the National Society’s ability to respond. After ties. The central region of Dodoma, where 85 people people who are most vulnerable to extreme heat Volunteers need to learn new communications skills.” the 2007 cholera outbreak, in which about a third of died, was the worst hit. and describes the tasks and roles of different parties cases proved fatal, the National Society trained over involved, such as health services, general practition- According to a January 2006 report by Tapiwa Gomo 250 volunteers in Bundibugyo and Hoima districts There is no fully proven link to the recent outbreak, ers, nursing homes and volunteer organizations. of the International Federation: “Many of the areas [of – two of the worst affected – in the causes and but the mosquitoes that carry RVF are known to It includes a health warning system, guidelines for Malawi] hardest hit by floods have suffered droughts symptoms of cholera, disease management, hygiene breed rapidly in flooded areas. And as Julius says, volunteers and a sticker with simple advice on what that have led to a hunger crisis.” and sanitation. “some people we’ve met have lived in the same to do when temperatures rise. place since the 1960s and never experienced the There are also fears of malaria, with receding During a door-to-door public information campaign kind of floods we’ve had lately”. Now as summer heatwaves build, the National floodwaters leaving behind stagnant pools where more than 5,000 households were contacted as Societies in France, the Netherlands and elsewhere the mosquitoes that carry it – the disease “vector” well as six primary schools in Bundibugyo. In Hoima In the sober language of the International Federation’s are much better prepared than they were to send – multiply rapidly. community leaders even enacted by-laws aimed emergency appeal: “Tanzania has been impacted Health and Care | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 121 120 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Health and Care
According to Washington DC-based climate and resources and creates associated health problems health specialist Kristie Ebi: “The cause-and-effect such as diarrhoea. chain from climate change to changing health patterns is complex and includes factors like wealth, Mining for sand and gravel often compounds the ef- public health infrastructure, medical care, and access fect of rising sea levels and the lack of land on these to nutrition, safe water and sanitation. The severity small coral atolls forces people to live in areas that of future impacts will be determined by changes in are flooded by frequent “king tides”. The Tuvalu Red climate as well as factors unrelated to climate, and by Cross put its Emergency Response Team into action how well people adapt.” for the first time by assisting the government to evacuate people whose houses had been swamped “Some people we’ve met The risks, will be much greater in low-income coun- by such a tide. tries where the current burden of ill health is already have lived in the same high and the public health system relatively weak. Samoan village systems remain strong and provide Countries like the island nations of the Pacific and a safety net – and most government services are place since the 1960s Papua New Guinea. administered through them. However there is a grow- ing number of people that fall outside this traditional and never experienced support network – those moving to urban areas, for Problems in paradise example, in the hope of better lives for their families, the kind of floods we’ve people immigrating to Samoa from other countries, and others denounced by fellow villagers for various had lately” The Melanesian countries of Papua New Guinea, misdemeanours who are left on the fringes without JULIUS KEJO, TANZANIA the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji are especially access to adequate health services. prone to floods, cyclones and droughts as well as earthquakes and tsunamis, unrelated to climate. These groups are vulnerable to current and future The age-old western perception of the Pacific as climate risks because of their socio-economic status by extreme climatic conditions since October 2006. a paradise is now profoundly ironic: it is a deeply and often their already-poor health. As part of the Rains spread across the country with a growing troubled region. Samoan Red Cross climate project, a Vulnerability intensity. Several lakes and rivers overflowed”. and Capacity Assessment is being used to try to Papua New Guinea is a textbook example of a build their resilience. Vaccinations against typhoid are Floods, of course, are not uncommon in Tanzania. country that faces a cocktail of seismic disasters being provided and other health problems addressed. But “a striking feature of this year’s disaster,” and worsening climatic extremes, yet is very poorly according to the appeal, was its “intensity, duration equipped to adapt. Malaria is another major chal- During the climate change conference organized and scale”. Many said that its magnitude was lenge. For many years, Papuans have watched by the Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre in unprecedented and its effects the worst in many malaria occurring at higher and higher altitudes as The Hague in 2007, representatives of many other years. the climate warmed. national societies shared stories of possible climate- related changes observed in various diseases, from The people affected were left in appalling sanitary The National Society in Papua New Guinea knows malaria outbreaks in Jamaica and Madagascar to conditions, lacked access to safe water and suffered malaria is out there in remote highland areas where it dengue fever in Palau. New health risks are emerg- from the intense heat that encouraged the spread of was unknown before. But with very limited resources ing, and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement disease. The Red Cross called the Tanzanian floods a it is struggling to get an accurate assessment of needs to prepare for these changing threats. “silent disaster”. exactly where.
Tanzania’s RVF was also apparently the result of a Other countries such as Tuvalu and Kiribati are change in the range of infectious-disease vectors. spread out over thousands of square kilometres and The mosquitoes that carry it found themselves with a the lure of urban infrastructure and economic pros- much larger flooded area to breed in, and for much pects brings people into the capitals from the remote longer. outer islands. This puts pressure on dwindling water 122 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Health and Care: How-to guide This Niger woman and her baby received a bed net in the massive distribution campaign undertaken by the International Federation in 2005–6 to help fight malaria. Malaria is one of several diseases spread by mosquitoes which can be affected by climate change. Photo: John Haskew/International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Health and Care How-to guide
The humanitarian mission of the gather extra information from However, it is important to Red Cross and Red Crescent is partner organizations and institu- integrate activities linked to to improve the lives of vulnerable tions, such as the health ministry climate change into other existing people, and their health plays and professional health care health-care programmes as well; a central role. As we have seen institutions. for example, community-based above, National Societies around first aid or other first aid training, the world are already grappling The following questions may help participatory health promotion or with new health emergencies, to assess risks: prevention programmes. These which are likely to be caused by • Are we in contact with the right should include interventions for climate change. experts, organizations or institu- diseases expected to increase tions to understand the health or appear with climate change, Therefore proactive adaptation risks of climate change in our such as diarrhoea. strategies, policies and measures country? need to be taken to relieve the • Did we identify possible health Successful programmes from disease burden of the most vul- impacts related to climate elsewhere can be a source of nerable groups. Health impacts change in our different inspiration, for example the are likely to affect cross-cutting programmes? distribution of treated bed nets programmes within National • Are we aware of possible health to prevent malaria, as part of Society disaster-management, impacts or disease outbreaks measles and polio vaccination risk reduction and care related to climate change and campaigns, with regular visits by programmes. other vulnerabilities for all differ- community volunteers. ent regions in the country? But how to start? The following questions may help Step 2: to prioritize and prepare for the Step 1: Assessing priorities and risks: Collecting general back- integrating climate change • Are we making use of all possible ground information into the strategy of the weather and climate information In order to integrate climate National Society that may help us to predict health change effects on health, the first Raising awareness about health impacts? step is to get a good understand- impacts of climate change inter- • Do we need to intensify ing of the changing risks that nally in the National Society will capacities within our health your country may be facing. This be a good start. Listing the main programmes? is part of the development of the disease burden within the different • Are we prepared to deal with national climate risk assessment target areas will be useful for the impacts identified, for about the impacts of climate prioritizing operations. As disease example malnutrition, infectious change in the country and outbreaks are often related to disease outbreaks caused by for your National Society (see extreme weather events and dis- changes in the range of vec- Getting Started: How-to guide, asters, priorities are closely related tors, heat wave related health step 3). to disaster-management response impacts? and risk-reduction activities. Health • Are we directing medication Identify all possible health related impacts can also be identified supplies to the right disaster impacts in your country and within social-care programmes. prone areas? Health and Care: How-to guide | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 125 124 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Health and Care: How-to guide
Depending on priorities, the Step 4: or droughts, as well as possible In order to enlarge its scope, Step 7: a disease does not automatically National Society could proceed Enhancing disaster risk weather-linked malaria outbreaks the International Federation Evaluation mean the disease will become to one or more of the activities reduction and other diseases. has formed global alliances to As part of the regular evalua- established, as there are many below. Heat alerts in France or water address major health problems tion effort, make sure that the other factors influencing this. As pumps in Nicaragua have proved There are various websites such as the Global Malaria National Society evaluates a consequence there are oppor- Step 3: to be efficient ways of reducing issuing warnings of such Partnership, and works together continuously whether health tunities: to enhance the factors Enhancing preparedness for the health impacts of climate extreme weather events and/or with NGOs and UN agencies risks are changing. Every year’s which prevent the disease from response and contingency change. health impacts, or giving sea- on hygiene promotion in Water climate change impacts should establishing itself, to monitor for planning sonal forecasts (see Disaster and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH). be evaluated and projections for the disease and if possible to “nip Identify new activities or intensify But how can we integrate Management). Models predicting These and other partnerships the coming year integrated into it in the bud”. existing activities that might be health impacts structurally in our locations of meningitis outbreaks can be the basis for addressing programmes (see table 2). effective interventions for the country? are being developed, which could health impacts of climate change. Opportunities most common causes of ill health • Advocacy and longer term enable targeted use of the limited Checklist With climate change altering the linked to climate change. partnerships in every layer of the amounts of vaccine available. With their branches reaching • Collect general background geographic coverage of certain society out to communities all over the information on possible health diseases, national societies may Questions to address: • Large programmes like the Questions to address: world, National Societies are related climate change impacts need to strengthen collaboration • Can we promote or advocate National Heatwave Plan in • Who to alert among the uniquely well placed to highlight in your country. in monitoring, identifying and public health intervention at dif- the Netherlands and WHO’s population and relevant authori- the vulnerabilities and capacities • Discuss within the National responding to new health risks ferent levels within the society? Euroheat programme (see ties, organizations, institutions, of exposed communities and to Society and set priorities for across borders. This may lead to • Is new funding needed to engage www.euro.who.int) and the health sector? How mobilise others to respond by action. improved health management at in health operations or expand • Community health care: Is extra to alert them? Which sub- supporting them. • Assess how preparedness for the regional level. existing programmes? training needed for volunteers? populations are vulnerable and disaster response and contin- • What has been done in other What knowledge does the local which information is necessary In view of the enormous health gency planning may include the Further information countries (or by other organiza- community lack? What can be for effective response to warn- impacts of extreme weather new health risks. All information from this guide is tions) to avoid vector-borne done to reduce risks based on ings? What education is needed related to climate change events, • Include health risks in your available on www.climatecentre. disease outbreaks, reduce vul- vulnerability assessments? on how to respond? Red Cross/Red Crescent advo- strategy for reducing disaster risk org, including updates and links nerability or improve bad hygienic • Examples of practical risk • Are there forecasts of disease cacy is crucial. and if necessary address these to relevant documents and conditions? reduction options: seed banks as or allergies based on (weather- risks in campaigns. sources of information, check- • Are we monitoring for diseases a safety buffer, elevated food and related) conditions that use Questions to address: • Enhance early warnings for lists, templates and best practice which may appear because of seeds storage, water harvesting models to predict health out- • Is awareness-raising information climate disease outbreaks that examples. climate change? Are we prepared and conservation, local clean-up comes, e.g. malaria, meningitis, tailored to the community, help- may be caused by climate to deal with unfamiliar diseases campaigns to eliminate vector- pollen, ozone? Are we using the ing people adapt to new health change. General Red Cross/Red Crescent by collecting information or ask- breeding sites, community-based information available to prepare: situations arising with climate • Address climate change risks in guidance and policies on health, ing advice from other National educational programmes raising putting in place mosquito nets, change? existing health partnerships and e.g. information on health in Societies who have experience awareness on prevention of cholera kits? • Is awareness raising integrated join up in practical action, aware- emergencies, water and sanita- with them? transmission and treatment, and • Is active or passive surveillance in other activities with the ness raising and advocacy. tion, and epidemics, are available • Do we need extra training for early warning systems. in place, or should it be community? at www.ifrc.org. volunteers to deal with, for developed, volunteers trained • Is the National Society building Pitfalls example, health and sanitation, Step 5: (volunteers epidemic manual)? partnerships which will help it There is a danger of overreacting The website of the World Health or infectious diseases and dis- Enhancing early warning address health impacts of climate to the outbreak of a new disease Organization (www.who.int) has placement? Is education on how Together with other organiza- Step 6: change? and causing panic among the information about many health to prevent and respond to health tions, the Red Cross and Red Awareness raising, • Is the National Society engaged population. It is therefore essential issues, including interactions with threats integrated into ongoing Crescent can utilize early-warning establishing partnerships in advocacy which will help to gather correct information in climate change. education activities with local systems to reduce health im- and advocacy address the health impacts of order to take the right measures. communities? pacts of extreme weather events It is necessary to raise awareness climate change? linked to climate change such on health impacts of climate That climate change makes an as heatwaves, storms, floods change to enable adaptation. area more suitable for a vector of Health and Care: How-to guide | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 127 126 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Health and Care: How-to guide
Table 2: An overview of health risks related to climate change
Possible climate Disease and Mechanisms Possible adaptation measures Possible climate Disease and Mechanisms Possible adaptation measures change impacts premature death change impacts premature death on health on health
Change in range of Malaria, dengue, Diseases are transmitted by vectors Additional surveillance to identify and Deaths and injuries Heat-related mortal- During heatwaves vulnerable groups Early-warning systems, heat alarms infectious-disease West Nile virus, or intermediate hosts (mosquitoes, prevent epidemics if vectors change their and disease from ity, heat stress, heat are at risk: urban poor, elderly, through media, warning organizations vectors leishmaniasis, sand flies, ticks, snails, rodents). range. Medical training, increased medical extreme-weather stroke, dehydration, babies, chronically ill and certain concerned, education on medical impacts Lyme disease, Climate change can shift distribution supplies in new areas. events: heatwaves; heart failure. occupations. Some benefits: fewer (within first-aid and social-care pro- schistosomiasis of vectors/hosts, and/or lead to Early warning systems, community increase in Diseases linked deaths from cold are outweighed by grammes), raising awareness of all risks. changes in transmission season. education, awareness, mobilization, use temperatures to temperature negative effects. Snow decrease, Effects on malaria are mixed depend- of bed nets (long-lasting insecticidal), increase glacier melt possibly lead to seasonal ing on region. vector management measures, e.g. local (see above). lack of water. Cattle is vulnerable as well: e.g. Rift clean-up campaigns to eliminate mosquito Valley Fever, blue tongue, which can breeding sites. Diseases related to Cardio-respiratory Risks for air quality are due to: Warning systems. Medical education. have impacts on food supplies. air quality morbidity and formation of ground-level ozone in Raising awareness of all risks. Substantial mortality urban areas with heat and sunlight; health benefits from actions to reduce Diseases increasing Diarrhoeal disease, Temperature directly affects incidence Monitoring water and food quality, ac- pollution from forest fires; changes in greenhouse gas emissions. with higher tem- cholera, meningitis, of diarrhoeal diseases. Malnutrition is cess to safe water, sanitation, drainage, distribution and seasonality of aller- peratures, humidity skin disease, a possible consequence of diarrhoeal health education, hygiene promotion, oral genic pollen species, e.g. Ambrosia or drought food poisoning disease. rehydration. Medical training, increased artemisiifolia. Meningitis is associated with drought. medical supplies. Food poisoning: e.g. contaminated Effects of sea-level Malnutrition, water- Effects of floods are listed above. Education programmes for farmers by shell fish, salmonellosis are linked to rise: salt- water in- borne diseases Sea level rise will affect livelihood, experts on different crop opportunities; temperature. trusion and coastal agriculture: loss of crops, shortage planting of mangroves, protecting reefs. erosion of sweet water resources; loss of Deaths and injuries Disasters: risk of im- Death and injury are due to flooding, Disaster management, Community risk income from tourism, etc may lead and disease from mediate death and storm damage (loss of infrastructure, reduction, Vulnerability and Capacity to malnutrition. Displacement of extreme-weather injury, mental-health housing), land slides, riverbank ero- Assessment. populations may intensify malnutrition events: storms, effects sion etc. Early-warning systems for vulner- and diseases. These effects may be hurricanes, intense able areas, evacuation training, trained enhanced by coral bleaching/damage rainfall, floods and/ Increased risk A number of vectors can breed in volunteers, planting mangrove trees for and decline of fisheries. or droughts and of waterborne water after extreme weather events coastal zone protection, shelters, higher bushfires diseases, malaria, such as storms or floods. storage spaces for food and seeds, higher From IPCC Working Group II (2007) dengue, diarrhoeal Leptospirosis (Weil’s diseases) can be houses, retention walls, dams, change in disease, cholera transmitted through contact with by crop varieties and planting times/livestock, rodents/pathogens after floods. harvesting, conserving water, water Extreme rainfall or drought can cause reservoirs, fire breaks, teaching new microbial or chemical contamination income-generating skills in towns. of water or insufficient water, increas- ing risk of disease.
Malnutrition Drought/flooding can lead to crop failure and consequent malnutrition. Displacement of population, loss of income can lead to malnutrition and disease. Glossary | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 129 128 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Glossary
or improving the pre-disaster El Niño-Southern Oscillation Hazard living conditions of the stricken (ENSO) A potentially damaging physical community. An anomaly in sea surface event that may cause loss of life Glossary temperature and atmospheric or injury, property damage, social Disaster rehabilitation pressure in the tropical Pacific and economic disruption or Adaptation affecting activities, strategies or and/or migration, environmental The set of actions taken after a Ocean that occurs roughly every environmental degradation. Adjustments in response to ac- investments, by taking account degradation and other issues. disaster to enable basic services four to seven years and can tual or expected climate change, of the risk of current variability Complex emergencies are to resume functioning, to repair lead to changes in seasonal Humanitarian values to reduce negative impacts or and extremes in weather as well becoming more likely due to physical damage and community rainfall in certain regions of the The values that shape humanitar- take advantage of opportunities. as long-term climate change. climate change, which may alter facilities, to revive economic planet (large parts of Africa, Latin ian action. Values based on the hazards and amplify underlying activities and support the psy- America, South East Asia and the Fundamental Principles of the Climate From a Red Cross/Red Crescent vulnerabilities. chological and social well-being Pacific). An ENSO cycle includes Red Cross and Red Crescent The average weather. The mean perspective, climate risk man- of the survivors. two phases: El Niño and la Niña. Movement include the protec- and variability of temperature, agement is doing what we have Disaster tion of life, health and human rainfall, wind etc. over a relatively always done in terms of disaster A situation in which the impact Disaster relief/response Extreme weather event dignity, respect for others and the long period of time (typically 30 management, health and care, of a hazard (such as a storm or Coordinated activities aimed at Weather that is extreme and rare acceptance of responsibility to years). One popular phrase can food security and so on, but pay- other extreme weather event) meeting the needs of people who in a particular place, such as ex- help others without discrimina- help distinguish weather from ing attention to (1) the way risks negatively affects vulnerable are affected by a disaster. tremely intense rainfall, extreme tion based on nationality, race, climate: “Climate is what you ex- are changing, and (2) options to individuals or communities, to a heat, a very strong windstorm. By gender, religious beliefs, class or pect. Weather is what you get”. reduce the risks in addition to degree that their lives are directly Disaster risk reduction definition, the characteristics of political opinions. being prepared to respond after threatened or sufficient harm is Measures at all levels to curb what is called “extreme weather” Climate change the event. done to economic and social disaster losses, through reducing vary from place to place. Often Hurricane Any change in climate over time. structures to undermine their exposure to different hazards, it is defined as something that See Tropical cyclone In principle, climate change can Coastal erosion ability to survive or recover. and reducing the vulnerabiilty of on average has happened less be due to natural processes or a Landward movement of the populations. Effective disaster than once every thirty, fifty or a International Federation (of result of human activity. The me- shoreline due to the forces of Disaster (risk) management risk-reduction practices use a hundred years. Red Cross and Red Crescent dia often refers to “global warm- waves and currents. Coastal A systematic process of imple- systematic approach to reduce Societies) ing” (an increase in the average erosion can get worse due to menting policies, strategies, and human, social, economic and Global warming The world’s largest humanitarian temperature of our planet), which sea level rise and more intense measures to reduce the impacts environmental vulnerability to The rise in average temperature organization. Founded in 1919, is actually just one manifestation storms associated with climate of natural hazards and related natural hazards. on earth due to the increasing the International Federation com- of global climate change. Other change. environmental and technological amounts of greenhouse gases in prises 186 member Red Cross manifestations include changes disasters. This includes, among Early warning the atmosphere. The media often and Red Crescent societies, a in rainfall patterns and in the Community-based disaster other things, disaster risk reduc- Providing timely and effective uses this term to refer to “climate Secretariat in Geneva and more frequency or intensity of extreme preparedness (CBDP) tion, preparedness, response, information about an imminent change” (a concept that includes than 60 delegations strategi- weather events. In the context of A process that seeks to develop recovery and rehabilitation. hazard that allows people to global warming as well as other cally located to support activities the United Nations Framework and implement strategies and take action to avoid a disaster or changes). around the world. Convention on Climate Change activities for disaster prepared- Disaster preparedness prepare for effective response. (UNFCCC), the term is linked to ness (and often risk reduction) Activities that contribute to the Early-warning systems depend Greenhouse gas (GHG) Intergovernmental Panel on human activities that alter the that are locally appropriate and pre-planned, timely and effective on a chain of things: understand- A gas, such as carbon dioxide Climate Change (IPCC) composition of the atmosphere, locally “owned”. response of individuals and com- ing and mapping the hazard; and methane, that absorbs and The most credible source of particularly greenhouse-gas munities to reduce the impact monitoring and forecasting; re-emits infrared radiation. When knowledge on climate change, emissions due to burning of fossil Complex disaster and deal with the consequences processing and disseminating pollution adds these gases to IPCC is a panel established fuels. A disaster that has no single of a (future) disaster. understandable warnings to the earth’s atmosphere, they trap in 1988 to assess scientific, root cause (such as a storm) but political authorities and the more solar energy in our planet technical and socio-economic Climate risk management emerges due to a combination Disaster recovery population; and undertaking the (like in a greenhouse) warming information. Every five or six An approach to systematically of factors, which may involve an Decisions and actions taken after right, timely actions in response the earth’s surface and contribut- years, it produces assessments manage climate-related risks extreme weather event, conflict a disaster with a view to restoring to the warnings. ing to climate change. based mainly on peer reviewed Glossary | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 131 130 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Glossary
and published scientific/technical such things as building retention Risk severe versions are called hur- to long-term climate change). helps uncover key community literature on climate change, its walls, water reservoirs, and The probability of harmful ricanes (in the North Atlantic, Vulnerability depends on risks and is used to plan strate- potential impacts, and options for reforestation to avoid landslides. consequences due to interaction the Northeast Pacific east of the physical, social, economic and gies for reducing them. During adaptation and mitigation. From the perspective of the between hazards and vulnerable dateline, or the South Pacific environmental factors and proc- an assessment, information is climate change community, these conditions. east of 160E) or typhoon (in esses. It is related, for instance, gathered by means of community Kyoto Protocol measures would be labeled as the Northwest Pacific west of to the places where people live, maps, historical and seasonal The first protocol to the United “adaptation” because they help Salt-water intrusion the dateline). Tropical cyclones the strength of their houses, calendars, asset inventories, Nations Framework Convention reduce the negative impacts of Increase of salinity in under- only form and intensify above the extent to which their crops livelihood and other surveys, on Climate Change (UNFCCC, climate change. ground freshwater located close warm water, and are probably can survive adverse weather, and interviews with local people. the international treaty on climate to the coast. It can be caused becoming more intense due to or whether they have organized “Transect walks” are also held in change). It assigns legally binding Monsoon by excessive withdrawal of the warming of the ocean surface evacuation routes and shelters. which Red Cross/Red Crescent commitments for industrial- A seasonal prevailing wind in water from the freshwater source caused by global warming. • Physical vulnerability relates to staff and volunteers walk through ized countries to reduce their tropical and sub-tropical regions. (aquifer) or by sea-level rise. the built environment and may be a community with its inhabitants, greenhouse-gas emissions by It lasts for several weeks and Typhoon described as “exposure” learning of key hazards and 2012, and includes some fund- leads to substantial changes in Sea-level rise See Tropical cyclone • Social vulnerability is caused by the area’s social and physical ing mechanisms for adaptation rainfall. An increase in the average level such things as levels of fam- features. Additional information to climate change. The Kyoto of the sea or ocean. The global United Nations Framework ily-ties and social networks then provides context and valida- Protocol was adopted in 1997 National Society sea level is rising as a result of Convention on Climate literacy and education, health tion for the community-based and entered into force in 2005. Red Cross or Red Crescent increasing global temperature Change (UNFCCC) infrastructure, the state of peace findings. It is expected to be followed by a society of a given country, and because: (1) melting of ice in A global treaty aimed to avoid and security second protocol to the UNFCCC, member of the International mountains and glaciers leads to dangerous climate change by • Economic vulnerability is which should be ready for ratifi- Federation. more water in the ocean, and (2) reducing greenhouse gas emis- suffered by people of less- This glossary builds on definitions cation in 2009. warmer water in the oceans ex- sions and supporting developing privileged class or caste, ethnic provided by sources including Natural hazards pands, occupying more volume. countries to cope with the una- minorities, the very young and the International Federation of Mitigation Natural events that may harm Local sea levels are determined voidable changes. Decisions are old etc. They suffer proportionally Red Cross and Red Crescent This word has different meanings people or their assets. Natural by a combination of the global taken by the Conference of the larger losses in disasters and Societies, the Intergovernmental for practitioners in the climate hazards can be classified by sea-level rise and the local rise Parties (COP), which meets every have limited capacity to recover. Panel on Climate Change Fourth change and disaster-manage- origin: geological (such as or subsidence of the land (for year. The UNFCCC was signed in Similarly, an economy lacking a Assessment Report, and the ment communities, often leading earthquakes and volcanic erup- instance due to geological 1992 and ratified by most nations diverse productive base is less United Nations Development to confusion: tions), hydrometeorological (such processes). in 1994. likely to recover from disaster Programme/Global Environment as floods, heatwaves, storms) impact which may also lead to Facility Adaptation Policy Mitigation (climate change) or biological (such as pests and Seasonal forecasting Vector-borne disease forced migration Frameworks, the United Nations Measures to reduce green- locust swarms). Some natural Forecasting of probable weather A disease transmitted by an • Environmental vulnerability refers International Strategy for Disaster house-gas concentrations in the hazards can be more likely to conditions in a certain region dur- insect or other organism (the to the extent of natural-resource Reduction. Definitions have been atmosphere, and thus ultimately occur with human induced ing a certain period (for instance vector). Examples include malaria degradation, such as deforesta- shortened or adjusted to meet the magnitude of climate change. climate change. a month, or a season) based on and dengue. Vector-borne dis- tion, depletion of fish stocks, soil audience requirements. Measures include energy conser- observed and projected oceanic eases can be affected by climate degradation and water scarcity vation, using renewable energy Precipitation and atmospheric conditions. because temperature and rainfall which threaten food security and such as wind or solar energy Rain, snow or hail. These projections, sometimes affect the distribution of the health. instead of coal, oil or gas; and months in advance, can help vector and/or the transmission planting trees that absorb carbon Recovery prepare for various emergencies, season. Vulnerability and Capacity dioxide from the atmosphere. See Disaster recovery from hurricanes to malaria. Assessment (VCA) Vulnerability A tool widely used by the Mitigation (disaster management) Reconstruction Tropical cyclone The degree to which someone Red Cross and Red Crescent Measures aimed at moderat- See Disaster reconstruction (sometimes called just cyclone) or something can be affected to identify the strengths and ing or reducing the severity of A violent, rotating storm with by a particular hazard (from weaknesses of people facing disaster impact. They include heavy wind and rain. The most sudden events such as a storm disaster risk. The VCA process Sources | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 133 132 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Acronyms
Acronyms Sources
AIDS Acquired Immune IRI International Research International Federation (1999) Cambridge University Press. Deficiency Syndrome Institute for Climate and Society Strategy 2010. International Online at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ Federation of Red Cross and independent_reviews CBDP Community-based NAPA National Adaptation Red Crescent Societies, Geneva. Disaster Preparedness Programme of Action Online at www.ifrc.org UN/ISDR (2006) On Better Terms, UN/ISDR, Geneva. Online CBDR Community-based NGO Non-governmental International Federation (1999) at www.unisdr.org Disaster Reduction organization World Disasters Report 1999. International Federation of UN/ISDR (2004) Living with Risk, COP Conference of the RRCS Rwandan Red Cross Red Cross and Red Crescent A global review of disaster reduc- Parties (to the UN Framework Society Societies, Geneva. tion initiatives, UN/ISDR, Geneva. Convention on Climate Change) Online at www.unisdr.org UNDP United Nations International Federation (2006) DM Disaster Management Development Programme World Disasters Report 2006. UNDP/GEF (2005) Adaptation International Federation of Policy Frameworks for DMIS Disaster Management UNEP United Nations Red Cross and Red Crescent Climate Change. Developing Information System (International Environment Programme Societies, Geneva. Strategies, Policies and Federation) Measures. Cambridge University UNFCCC United Nations IPCC (2007) Climate Change Press, Cambridge. Online at DRR Disaster Risk Reduction Framework Convention on 2007. Fourth Assessment Report www.undp.org/gef/adaptation/ Climate Change of the Intergovernmental Panel climate_change/APF.htm ERCS Ethiopian Red Cross on Climate Change. Online at Society UN/ISDR United Nations www.ipcc.ch Van Aalst, M. (2006) Managing International Strategy for Disaster Climate Risk Integrating ERU Emergency Response Unit Reduction IRI (2006) Climate Risk Adaptation into World Bank Management in Africa: Learning Operations, World Bank Group, FACT Field Assessment and WHO World Health Organization from Practice. Climate and Washington DC. Online at Coordination Team Society Series No. 1, IRI, www.worldbank.org WMO World Meteorological Palisades New York. Online at GEF Global Environment Facility Organization www.iri.columbia.edu Further sources of information HIV Human Immunodeficiency WPNS Well-prepared National CRED (n.d.) EM-DAT Emergency on climate change can be found Virus Society Disasters Database. Centre for on the Climate Centre website Research on the Epidemiology www.climatecentre.org IATF/DR Inter-Agency Task VCA Vulnerability and Capacity of Disasters (CRED), Catholic Force on Disaster Reduction Assessment University of Leuven. Online at www.em-dat.net ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross Stern, N. (2006) The Economics of Climate IPCC Intergovernmental Panel Change, the Stern Review. on Climate Change Annex | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 135 134 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Annex
hydrological cycle associated initial benefits are projected in culty adapting to climate change. with global warming. Increases western and southern areas and Mountainous areas will face gla- in coastal water temperature close to major rivers due to a cier retreat, reduced snow cover Annex: regional impacts of climate change would exacerbate the abundance longer growing season, less frost and winter tourism, and extensive and/or toxicity of cholera in South and increased rainfall. species losses (in some areas up Extracted from IPCC (2007), be exacerbated by continued increasing demand arising from Asia. to 60 per cent under high emis- Impacts, Vulnerability and over-fishing. higher standards of living, could • The region has substantial adap- sion scenarios by 2080). Adaptation. Contribution of Working • Towards the end of the 21st adversely affect more than a bil- tive capacity due to well devel- Group II to the IPCC Fourth century, projected sea-level rise lion people by the 2050s. Australia and New Zealand oped economies and scientific • In Southern Europe, climate Assessment Report. will affect low-lying coastal areas and technical capabilities, but change is projected to worsen with large populations. The cost • Coastal areas, especially • As a result of reduced precipita- there are considerable con- conditions (high temperatures of adaptation could amount heavily-populated megadelta re- tion and increased evapora- straints to implementation and and drought) in a region already to at least 5–10 per cent of gions in South, East and South- tion, water security problems major challenges from changes in vulnerable to climate variability, Africa Gross Domestic Product (GDP). East Asia, will be at greatest risk are projected to intensify by extreme events. Natural systems and to reduce water availability, Mangroves and coral reefs are due to increased flooding from 2030 in southern and eastern have limited adaptive capacity. hydropower potential, summer • By 2020, between 75 million and projected to be further degraded, the sea and, in some megadeltas Australia and, in New Zealand, tourism and, in general, crop 250 million people are projected with additional consequences for flooding from the rivers. in Northland and some eastern productivity. It is also projected to be exposed to increased fisheries and tourism. regions. Europe to increase health risks due to water stress due to climate • Climate change is projected to heat waves, and the frequency of change. If coupled with increased • New studies confirm that Africa impinge on the sustainable • Significant loss of biodiversity • For the first time, wide-ranging wildfires. demand, this will adversely affect is one of the most vulnerable development of most developing is projected to occur by 2020 impacts of changes in current livelihoods and exacerbate water- continents to climate variability countries of Asia, as it com- in some ecologically rich sites climate have been documented: • In Central and Eastern Europe, related problems. and change because of multiple pounds the pressures on natural including the Great Barrier Reef retreating glaciers, longer grow- summer precipitation is projected stresses and low adaptive capac- resources and the environment and Queensland Wet Tropics. ing seasons, shift of species to decrease, causing higher • Agricultural production, including ity. Some adaptation to current associated with rapid urbaniza- Other sites at risk include Kakadu ranges, and health impacts due water stress. Health risks due access to food, in many African climate variability is taking place; tion, industrialization, and eco- wetlands, south-west Australia, to a heat wave of unprecedented to heat waves are projected to countries and regions is project- however, this may be insufficient nomic development. sub-Antarctic islands and the magnitude. The observed increase. Forest productivity ed to be severely compromised for future changes in climate. alpine areas of both countries. changes described above are is expected to decline and the by climate variability and change. • It is projected that crop yields consistent with those projected frequency of peatland fires to The area suitable for agriculture, could increase up to 20 per cent • Ongoing coastal development for future climate change. increase. the length of growing seasons Asia in East and South-East Asia while and population growth in areas and yield potential, particularly they could decrease up to 30 such as Cairns and South-east • Nearly all European regions • In Northern Europe, climate along the margins of semi-arid • Glacier melt in the Himalayas is per cent in Central and South Queensland (Australia) and are anticipated to be negatively change is initially projected to and arid areas, are expected projected to increase flooding, Asia by the mid-21st century. Northland to Bay of Plenty (New affected by some future impacts bring mixed effects, including to decrease. This would further and rock avalanches from Taken together, and considering Zealand), are projected to exac- of climate change, and these will some benefits such as reduced adversely affect food security destabilised slopes, and to affect the influence of rapid population erbate risks from sea-level rise pose challenges to many eco- demand for heating, increased and exacerbate malnutrition in water resources within the next growth and urbanization, the risk and increases in the severity and nomic sectors. Climate change crop yields and increased forest the continent. In some countries, two to three decades. This will be of hunger is projected to remain frequency of storms and coastal is expected to magnify regional growth. However, as climate yields from rain-fed agriculture followed by decreased river flows very high in several developing flooding by 2050. differences in Europe’s natural change continues, its negative could be reduced by up to 50 as the glaciers recede. countries. resources and assets. Negative impacts (including more frequent per cent by 2020. • Production from agriculture and impacts will include increased winter floods, endangered eco- • Freshwater availability in Central, • Endemic morbidity and mortal- forestry by 2030 is projected to risk of inland flash floods, and systems and increasing ground • Local food supplies are projected South, East and South-East ity due to diarrhoeal disease pri- decline over much of southern more frequent coastal flooding instability) are likely to outweigh to be negatively affected by Asia, particularly in large river marily associated with floods and and eastern Australia, and over and increased erosion (due to its benefits. decreasing fisheries resources basins, is projected to decrease droughts are expected to rise in parts of eastern New Zealand, storminess and sea-level rise). in large lakes due to rising due to climate change which, East, South and South-East Asia due to increased drought and The great majority of organisms • Adaptation to climate change is water temperatures, which may along with population growth and due to projected changes in the fire. However, in New Zealand, and ecosystems will have diffi- likely to benefit from experience Annex | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | 137 136 | Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide | Annex
gained in reaction to extreme consumption, agriculture and depend on highly utilized water • For human communities in the and reduce the value of these climate events, specifically by energy generation. resources. Arctic, impacts, particularly those destinations for tourism. implementing proactive climate resulting from changing snow change risk management adap- • Some countries have made ef • Cities that currently experience and ice conditions, are pro- • Sea-level rise is expected to tation plans. forts to adapt, particularly heat waves are expected to jected to be mixed. Detrimental exacerbate inundation, storm through conservation of key eco- be further challenged by an impacts would include those surge, erosion and other coastal systems, early warning systems, increased number, intensity and on infrastructure and traditional hazards, thus threatening vital Latin America risk management in agriculture, duration of heat waves during indigenous ways of life. infrastructure, settlements and strategies for flood drought the course of the century, with facilities that support the liveli- • By mid-century, increases in and coastal management, and potential for adverse health • Beneficial impacts would include hood of island communities. temperature and associated disease surveillance systems. impacts. Elderly populations are reduced heating costs and more decreases in soil water are However, the effectiveness of most at risk. navigable northern sea routes. • Climate change is projected projected to lead to gradual these efforts is outweighed by: by mid-century to reduce water replacement of tropical forest by lack of basic information, obser- • Coastal communities and • In both polar regions, specific resources in many small islands, savanna in eastern Amazonia. vation and monitoring systems; habitats will be increasingly ecosystems and habitats are e.g., in the Caribbean and Semi-arid vegetation will tend to lack of capacity building and stressed by climate change im- projected to be vulnerable, as Pacific, to the point where they be replaced by arid-land vegeta- appropriate political, institutional pacts interacting with develop- climatic barriers to species inva- become insufficient to meet de- tion. There is a risk of significant and technological frameworks; ment and pollution. Population sions are lowered. mand during low-rainfall periods. biodiversity loss through species low income; and settlements in growth and the rising value of extinction in many areas of tropi- vulnerable areas, among others. infrastructure in coastal areas • Arctic human communities • With higher temperatures, cal Latin America. increase vulnerability to climate are already adapting to climate increased invasion by non-native variability and future climate change, but both external and species is expected to occur, • In drier areas, climate change is North America change, with losses projected to internal stressors challenge their particularly on mid- and high expected to lead to salinization increase if the intensity of tropical adaptive capacities. Despite the latitude islands. and desertification of agricul- • Warming in western mountains storms increases. Current adap- resilience shown historically by tural land. Productivity of some is projected to cause decreased tation is uneven and readiness for Arctic indigenous communities, important crops is projected to snowpack, more winter flooding, increased exposure is low. some traditional ways of life are decrease and livestock produc- and reduced summer flows, being threatened and substantial tivity to decline, with adverse exacerbating competition for investments are needed to adapt consequences for food security. over-allocated water resources. Polar Regions or re-locate physical structures In temperate zones soybean and communities. yields are projected to increase. • Disturbances from pests, • In the Polar regions, the main diseases and fire are projected to projected biophysical effects • Sea-level rise is projected to have increasing impacts on for- are reductions in thickness and Small islands cause increased risk of flooding ests, with an extended period of extent of glaciers and ice sheets, in low-lying areas. Increases high fire risk and large increases and changes in natural ecosys- • Small islands, whether located in in sea surface temperature in area burned. tems with detrimental effects the tropics or higher latitudes, due to climate change are on many organisms including have characteristics which make projected to have adverse effects • Moderate climate change in the migratory birds, mammals and them especially vulnerable to the on Mesoamerican coral reefs, early decades of the century is higher predators. In the Arctic, effects of climate change, sea- and cause shifts in the location of projected to increase aggregate additional impacts include reduc- level rise and extreme events. south-east Pacific fish stocks. yields of rain-fed agriculture by tions in the extent of sea ice and 5–20 per cent, but with important permafrost, increased coastal • Deterioration in coastal condi- • Changes in precipitation patterns variability among regions. Major erosion, and an increase in the tions, for example through and the disappearance of gla- challenges are projected for depth of permafrost seasonal erosion of beaches and coral ciers are projected to significantly crops that are near the warm end thawing. bleaching, is expected to affect affect water availability for human of their suitable range or which local resources, e.g., fisheries, Marsabit, Kenya: rough terrain and a lack of paved roads make access difficult for Red Cross vehicles trying to reach remote villages. Photo: Daniel Cima/American Red Cross Financial contributers to this guide Red Cross/Red Crescent Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Guide Climate Guide