Transcript Humanitarian Consequences of Climate Change

The Humanitarian Consequences of
Climate Change
Paul van der Laan
Representative
The Netherlands Red Cross in Vietnam
29 October 2008
Viet Nam Red Cross
Climate Change impact on Vietnam is very
clearly recognized
 Typhoons, storms are more severe, more
uncertain, less local knowledgeable
 Drought: more fierce, desertification
increasingly in some region
 Flood: increasing in intensity, severity,
types. Flash flood and landslide become
dangers
 Many human lost and damages of
property, livelihood, environmental
pollutions, epidemics
Picture: VNexpress
The need for CC Adaptation (1)
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The Red Cross is concerned about the humanitarian
impacts of CC.
Often the people hardest hit by these effects of CC will be
the world’s most vulnerable, the elderly, the sick and the
poorest people in the poorest countries.
Not only strengthen capacity to respond to disasters but
also invest in disaster risk reduction, making communities
stronger and more resilient in the first place.
The need for CC Adaptation (2)
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Even if we are going to reduce the emission of GHG with
a large percentage than still it will first get worse before it
is getting better, because of the existence of the
greenhouse gasses that are already in the atmosphere.
Coming up with policies and funding mechanisms to
reduce greenhouse gases is essential but not sufficient.
We must adapt to CC right now.
Red Cross and Climate Change
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The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is seen as
a Disaster Response organization, which is supporting
vulnerable people especially in times of disasters.
Red Cross workers and volunteers around the world are
experiencing CC in their daily work.
The RC/RC Movement focuses on CC Adaptation
Public Awareness, early warning systems, typhoon
resistant housing, planting trees against storm surges
and landslides, evacuation plans are some examples.
Community based: communes must be more resilient in
the first place
All Projects have the same Objective
Strengthening Vietnamese capacities to adapt and respond to natural
disasters that are enhanced by climate change, in order to reduce its
negative effects on the most vulnerable people of Vietnam
Strategy:
 Advocacy
• Awareness
• Action
Approach:
• Community based
• People-centered
• Partnership, bringing scientists,
practitioners and communities
together
Activities components
1. Advocacy
To advocate for ADAPTATION perspective of climate change, in order to integrate
climate change into national and local action plans of disaster preparedness,
environment, health care etc. (Remark: in early 2000s, this was very new) and
promoting image and role of Red Cross in scientific community, disasters
preparedness community, schools.
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Message: Climate change is also a humanitarian issue.
National Seminar, Workshops, meetings, discussion (with relevant
authorities, local government, DM organizations to facilitate
dialogues, presentation, lobbying on climate change issues
Developing background document, materials and other publications
on Climate change and disaster preparedness, community
participation
Cooperating and coordinating with other organization to participate
and contribute to international climate change events.
Advocacy: Workshop and Publications
2. Awareness Raising
To raise public awareness, especially for those who are living in disaster prone area, on climate change and its
relationship to disaster preparedness in order to enhance their activeness for preparedness.
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Message: “Climate change makes hazards more severe, more
frequent and unpredictable. We must better prepare”
Organizing training for disaster prone communes
Broadcasting via loudspeakers and mass media
Developing documentaries and television shows (VTV), and visual arts for
training, brochures and flies
Disseminating via village meetings, local organizations meetings
Disseminating in primary schools, to teachers and children
Action: VCA
- Trainings to enhance basic knowledge and skills in community based disaster
management for key personnel of communes and villages
- Vulnerable Capacity Assessments (VCA), integrated projection/anticipation of
climate change impact. Planning for mitigation measures
Action: Strengthening
Response Mechanisms
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Training for search and rescue
teams
Providing rescue equipment
Drills for disaster response and
Search & Rescue
Action: Early Warning and Dissemination –
Safe Roads and Bridges
Strengthening early
warning/loudspeaker system
Building safe roads / bridges at
high risk areas
Action: Planting Trees and Building Dams
Planting Trees (casuarinas, Mangroves)
Building dam to prevent salinity,
extending agricultural production
PROJECTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE RELATED DISASTER
PREPAREDNESS (past and on-going)
VNRC and NLRC
1.
Project “Preparedness for Disasters related to Climate change”
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From 05/2003 – 03/2006, in 5 provinces, 30 communes, 230.000 beneficiaries
Budget: 315,000 euro, funded by: Dutch government and NLRC. Cooperation: Hydro-metrology Institute
(IMH) and CCFSC
2.
Project “Reforestration to adapt to climate change”
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From 03/2006 – 03/2007, in 5 communes of Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province
Funded by Rabobank and NLRC. Cooperation: SNV (on Clean Development Mechanism CDM)
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Project “Community Based Disaster Preparedness” Dipecho 5
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From 01/2007 – 05/2008, in 4 provinces Hue, Quang Tri, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, 16 communes, 61,000
beneficiaries. Budget: 344,000 euro, funded by EU via Humanitarian Aid Dipecho, NLRC and SRC
Cooperation: DANI
4.
Project “Community Based Disaster Preparedness” EuropeAid
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From 03/2007 – 03/2010, in 2 provinces Ha Tinh and Quang Binh, 16 communes, 45,000 beneficiaries
Budget: 445,000 euro, funded by EuropeAid and NLRC. Cooperation: CCFSC, NDM-P
New Project: Enhancing VCA in Vietnam
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Based on lessons of the past
- improve the VCA process
- take into account special needs (elderly, disabled, ethnic minorities)
- extend analysis further then disasters related intervention – livelihood
adaptation etc.
- ensure proper analysis and ensure input from grassroots people
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Enhance VCA in Vietnam
- Develop Manual for integrated VCA in Vietnam
- Create a base of 60 Facilitators nation-wide
- From 09/2008 – 01/2010
- Budget: approx. 310,000 euro, funded by EU via Humanitarian
Aid (Dipecho) and NLRC
- Cooperation: other NGOs and JANI