Transcript Climate Change & Disasters Climate Change and Disasters

Climate Change
& Disasters
Climate Change and Disasters
“The report [Impacts, Adaptation & Vulnerability, IPCC 2007] confirms our
worst fears – vulnerable people; the elderly, the sick and the poorest people, in
the poorest countries, are at greatest risk when it comes to climate change”
Madeleen Helmer, Head of the Red Cross Climate Change Centre
“The report illustrates that the international community's responsibilities
should go beyond reducing carbon dioxide emissions. 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”
Markku Niskala, International Federation Secretary General
World Disaster Report 2008
Oceania
1998
Disasters 17
Killed
2245
Affected* 824
Damage** 584
1999 2000
15 13
116 205
151 7
2547 645
2001
18
9
31
673
2002 2003 2004
18
20
22
91
64
35
41
38
119
2514 668
606
•Source: Red Cross Red Crescent World Disaster
•Report 2008
2005 2006 2007 Total
16
18
10 167
46
24
253 3088
28
38
152 1413
233 1322 1738 11,530
•Affected * = Thousands
•Damage ** = US$ Millions
How do we know what to expect in Asia Pacific?
How do we know what to expect in Asia Pacific?
How do we know what to expect in Asia Pacific?
How do we know what to expect in Asia Pacific?
Pacific Islands are some of the most vulnerable
Sea level rises in the Pacific
•Location
Installed
•Fiji
Oct 92
•Kiribati
Dec 92
•Vanuatu
Jan 93
•Tonga
Feb 93
•Cook Is
Feb 93
•Samoa
Feb 93
•Tuvalu
Mar 93
•Marshall Is May 93
•Nauru
Jul 93
•Solomon
Jul 94
•PNG Manus Sep 94
•FSM
Dec 01
Trend mm/yr
+2.7
+6.0
+3.0
+8.1
+3.1
+6.7
+5.8
+4.6
+7.5
+6.3
+7.7
+16.6
•Based on SEAFRAME Data at 27 stations
•monitored hourly
How do we know what to expect in Asia Pacific?
• Since 1950 natural disasters affected more than 3.4M people
• Outside PNG led to more than 1700 reported deaths
• 1990s reported natural disasters cost the region US$2.8B in 2004
value
• 10 of 15 most extreme events over the past 50 years occurred in the
last 15 years
How do we know what to expect in Asia Pacific?
Solomon Islands is already experiencing:
• Rising sea levels, with salt water intrusion
• Flooding
• Greater intensity and frequency of
cyclones
• Coral reef pressure
How do we know what to expect in Asia Pacific?
Results in:
• Fresh water contamination
• Greater coastal erosion
• Reduction in island size
• Food and water security issues
• Health impacts
How do we know what to expect in Asia Pacific?
• Impacts compounded by:
• Poverty
• Population increases
• Urbanisation
• Deforestation
• Subsistence dependence
• Other Pacific nations impacted:
• PNG
• Kiribati
• Samoa
• Tuvalu
• Not ‘if’ but ‘when’
How do we know what to expect in Asia Pacific?
• Tuvalu
• Home to 4000 of the 11,000
population
• 379 people per sq km - 70%
reliant on subsistence
• Highest point 4.5m above
sea level
• Isolated outer islands
• Issues
• Rising temperatures / sea
levels
• Rainfall decrease
• No land to flee to
• Logistical communication
challenges
Wars…conflicts…natural disasters…climate change
Red Cross response:
• Set up Climate Centre in the Hague in 2002
• Disaster and Climate change delegates
meet regularly
• Linking with Government and
other NGOs
• Sharing Australian knowledge with
our Pacific neighbours
• Conducting detailed community
planning in Pacific Nations
What’s happening in the Pacific?
Action:
• 2005 pilot project to combat climate
change
• Assessed preparedness and response to
adaptation
• Raised awareness and set up a Climate
Action Network
• International training provided
• Satellite phones and communication
packs distributed
The Red Cross approach in the Pacific?
• ‘Preparedness for Climate Change Program’
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Workshop Climate Change Risk with stakeholders
Identify/assess Climate Change risks against the priorities/programmes
Address gaps via capacity building
Develop Climate Change resilient programmes
• Implement community level adaptation projects:
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Rainwater harvesting
Reforestation projects
Coastal zone protection
Win-win adaptation strategies e.g. Vietnam
mangrove replanting to protect coastline from
typhoon impacts and promote fish nurseries
What lessons have been learnt?
Adaptation Strategies:
• Pay off in the long run
• Costs less than disaster
recovery
• Must be introduced early, when
planning key investments
• Win-win strategies required
• Reduce vulnerability
But there are still major challenges to overcome?
• Prevention vs. generous response to disasters irrespective
• Benefits not immediately visible
• Compete with short term priorities
• Prevention funding constrained vs.
significant emergency funding
• Management of natural hazards not
mainstreamed into economic planning
• Efforts undermined as not managed by
key ministries
• Inadequate emphasis on raising awareness
What is needed to help the Pacific?
•
Link bodies that deal with adaptation and disasters
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Funding model that supports adaptation, separate from disaster response
•
Country dialogue, plans and projects to include
adaptation and disaster risk reduction
•
More funds dedicated to adaptation
in poorer nations
•
Developing win-win projects for
community and government buy-in
•
Foster international mentoring opportunities
Their future is linked to our future?