Communications
The global climate is changing and the past no longer explains the present. Traditional knowledge is increasingly unreliable because our experience of what has happened before does not necessarily help us prepare for today and tomorrow.
Progress in science and technology, though, has brought remarkable growth in the development of forecasts. From predictions of shifts in rainfall patterns to short-term tropical cyclone tracks, they are vital new tools in efforts to reduce the impact of natural hazards.
But the existence of predictions is not enough. They need to be communicated, and that is a challenge for all, especially in poor countries or among poor communities in rich ones. People must both understand and trust the warnings they are given. Events may be inevitable but those at risk need to know that they can do something about them.
Download here our factsheet
(pdf, 49 kB) (in English) on Communication and Climate Change. The factsheet is also available in Russian
(pdf, 135 kB).
Communication materials
- Overview
(pdf, 4 MB) of communication materials produced by different National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
- Poster ‘Towards climate change urban adaptation in Indonesia: Climate Change Vulnerability assessment for Cities in Java region’, prepared by Febi Dwirahmadi, Senior Officer for Disaster Risk Reduction at the IFRC Indonesia Delegation together with colleagues from other agencies in Indonesia such as the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), WWF and the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics. This poster explains how an assessment was done using both top down (scientific information) and bottom up (Participatory Rural Appraisal) approaches. More information can be found in the poster abstract.
- Posters produced by the Red Cross Solomon Islands on practical measures
(pdf, 1 MB) on climate change adaptation, climate change impacts
(pdf, 2 MB) and one on the traditional methods
(pdf, 231 kB) regarding climate change adaptation
- Brochure Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre
(pdf, 2 MB)
- Fan
(pdf, 917 kB) (English version)
- Fan
(pdf, 203 kB) (French version)
- Examples of short films can be found at our Films and presentations page.
Please note: higher resolutions for printing are available from the Climate Centre on request.
"Only when we’re comfortable talking about climate change internally in the National Society can we move on to addressing external audiences." Ethel Kaimila, Malawi.
Main topics:
Disaster Management
Climate change can act as a catalyst for enhanced disaster management.
Health and Care
Many national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies will be touched by the health implications of climate change.
Early warning early action
Routinely taking humanitarian action before a disaster or health emergency happens, making full use of scientific information on all timescales.
Advocacy
The Red Cross and Red Crescent never works in isolation. Partnerships are more important than ever in the context of global warming.
Communications
The global climate is changing and the past no longer explains the present.
Community risk reduction
The Red Cross and Red Crescent has traditionally focused on response. But now other aspects, including risk reduction, are also given priority.
Youth
Red Cross Red Crescent youth take action to reduce the impacts of climate change.
Getting started
The Red Cross Red Crescent has a growing body of experience working on addressing climate change. Here’s how to use it to get started.