Climate change
Climate change has a human face – it is increasing disaster risk for millions of the world’s most vulnerable people. Climate change is not a future threat. It is a key driver of disasters now. The frequency and intensity of floods, storms and droughts is increasing and the average number of people affected by climate-related natural disasters annually is estimated at 243 million (CRED, 2009).
Those suffering most from this growing uncertainty are the poorest and most vulnerable, living in risk-prone countries. These people lack the resources to adapt to, or cope with, the rapidly changing climate patterns and thus stand to lose what little socio-economic development they have achieved. Communities will further suffer as climate change affects the natural resources upon which so many developing country economies are dependent. These increases in vulnerability, particularly as it affects people in poor countries, makes climate change a matter of concern for the Red Cross.
There has been a large world-wide increase in the number of disasters from between 200 and 250 in the period 1987-1997, to roughly double that in the years 2000-2007 (CRED 2009). This increase is caused almost entirely by natural disasters, mostly weather-related events. The number of devastating storms has doubled and disaster statistics show that floods are occurring more frequently and damaging larger areas than two decades ago.
“The threat of natural catastrophe is very real for Canadians living in every region of the country. Disaster damage has been doubling every five to ten years in Canada and elsewhere around the world. This represents a 14-fold increase over the past 40 years,” stated Paul Kovacs of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction. While improved record-keeping may slightly affect the numbers, we have no choice but to accept the fact that natural disasters are occurring with increasing frequency and severity. Natural events in largely populated areas will impact more people, threaten more infrastructures and do more damage in human and property terms than previously experienced. It also means that, proportionally the size of our response must grow.
The humanitarian impact of climate change is an important focus for the Canadian Red Cross. Red Cross has a long and well-established position in responding to disasters and expanding programs on risk reduction and disaster preparedness. Working on the frontline in communities, they have already observed and continue to experience the impacts of a changing climate.
With over 5,400 volunteers in Canada, more than 70 Canadian delegates internationally, and Canadian Red Cross funded programs around the world, the Red Cross both responds to the impacts of climate change and is improving safety and resilience through early adaption action. By reducing vulnerability of people and strengthening their livelihoods, people will become more resilient to disasters. Efforts are aimed at food security, drinking water supplies, sanitation, primary healthcare, and increasing disaster risk awareness so that floods, storms, heat waves, droughts and diseases will have less impact. We also recognize climate change may have impacts on human mobility that will cause societal strains in many countries and perhaps at a global level.
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Posted December 9, 2009
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