By Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre, Bec McNaught

1. Preparedness
for
climate change
Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre
Bec McNaught

2. The Greenhouse Effect
Just like a Greenhouse
that is used to grow
vegetables, gases high in
our skies trap the sun’s
heat – keeping the
temperature on Earth just
right
The temperature on Earth
without these gases
would be -19 degrees C!

3. Extra gases caused by the
burning of fuels trap extra
heat – this is known as
‘global warming’ which
causes our climate to
change

4. Gas
Increases
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5. How fast is it warming?
•! 2005 was the warmest
year on record
•! 11 out of last 12 years
have been the warmest
recorded
•! Global average
temperature has warmed
0.75C this century

6. So what happens to a warming world?
•! Changes to where animals
and plants are found
•! Coral becomes bleached or
white which impacts fisheries
•! Ice melts and sea levels slowly
rise causing erosion
•! More weather related Coral bleaching in Kiribati, Pacific
disasters like stronger
droughts, more intense floods,
stronger cyclones

7. Disaster trends since 1990
Number of disasters
400
300
200
100
0
‘90 ‘91 ‘92 ‘93 ‘94 ‘95 ‘96 ‘97 ‘98 ‘99 ‘00 ‘01 ‘02 ‘03 ‘04 ‘05 ‘06
geo- hydro- epidemics,
physical meteorological insect infestations Source: CRED

8. Why does Red Cross/Red Crescent care?
•! Increased number of weather related disasters means
more response
•! Impacts on food availability
•! Health problems – eg. disasters, diseases such as
Dengue and Malaria can spread, heat stress,
•! Potential to be a factor that fuels conflict and migration

9. What can the Red Cross /
Red Crescent do???

10. Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre
•! Established 2002 in the Netherlands by IFRC &
Netherlands RC
•! Action – with IFRC & National Societies
•! Advocacy – at climate change forums
•! Awareness – increasing understanding of climate change
•! Analysis – linking scientists with practitioners
•! Currently implementing Preparedness for Climate Change
Programme in 40 countries & providing technical
assistance to the Movement
•! www.climatecentre.org

11. Some things the Red Cross/
Red Crescent Movement
does to address climate change
•! Understanding climate change and its impacts
•! Talking and taking action with governments &
communities
•! Improving health and care
•! Being ready and able to respond to disasters
•! Reducing the chances of someone
being impacted by disaster by improving
understanding of disasters & early warnings

12. Youth involvement in Climate Change in the
Red Cross/Red Crescent

13. Columbia & Guatemala Red Cross

14. Drama at Samoa Red Cross

15. Netherlands Red Cross

16. Poster Competitions

17. Pakistan Red Crescent

18. School Visits – Tuvalu Red Cross

19. Guatemala Red Cross

20. Kiribati Red Cross

21. Involving youth when talking with communities

22. Encouraging Community Youth Groups to undertake projects

23. So what can we do?!
Ideas Activity!