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International
Federation: Efforts must be made to pre-empt catastrophic effects
of climate change 6 April 2007 The latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a definitive warning that governments and aid agencies must dramatically increase their investment in disaster risk reduction to help vulnerable communities face the expected impacts of climate change, says the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Published this morning in Brussels, the report of the IPCC’s second working group, titled “Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability”, emphasises that climate change will further exacerbate extreme weather events and erratic weather patterns, leading to more disasters that will hit already marginalised communities the hardest. “The report confirms our worst fears – that vulnerable people; the elderly, the sick and the poorest people in the poorest countries, are at greatest risk when it comes to climate change,” said Madeleen Helmer, head of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center. “The report illustrates that the international community’s responsibilities should go beyond reducing carbon dioxide emissions,” said Markku Niskala, the International Federation’s secretary-general. “They must extend to the protection of the most vulnerable against the disasters that a changing climate will bring. This requires a massive and global commitment to disaster preparedness and risk reduction.” The International Federation is supporting Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, particularly in developing countries, to improve their understanding of climate change, and to design and implement programmes that will mitigate its impact. In Viet Nam, for example, the Red Cross has planted mangroves to protect part of the sea dyke that runs along the country’s coastline against sea surges whipped up by increasingly ferocious tropical storms. In financial terms alone, this project proves that preparedness and mitigation pay dividends. The planning and protection of 1,200 hectares of mangroves has cost around $1.1 million USD, but has helped reduce the cost of dyke maintenance by $7.3 million USD per year. Elsewhere, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are organizing mock emergency drills and working with communities to design disaster management plans, helping them ensure that they can withstand storms, floods and droughts. “Climate change is one of the major global risks of this century. It is something that we cannot ignore nor escape from,” said Ms Helmer. “The international community does have an opportunity to pre-empt its impact, but only if we act now.” For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Anna Nelson, Communications officer Tel. + 41 79 724 20 46/+41 22 730 43 81 Media Service Duty Phone Tel. + 41 79 416 38 81 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 185 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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