News
Red Cross/ Red Crescent Head expresses alarm over outcome COP 17 climate change negotiations
December 13 2011by IFRC
Failure to reach a binding agreement to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions at this week’s 17th Conference of the Parties (COP-17) represents our “collective failure” and puts the world’s most vulnerable people at even greater risk, the head of the Red Cross Red Crescent said today.
Bekele Geleta, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said that even though global policy making has slowed down severely, the IFRC was committed to “rolling up its sleeves” and would continue to address the humanitarian impact of climate change and extreme weather on communities.
“Failure to reach a binding agreement was not unexpected but is nonetheless extremely alarming,” said Geleta. The devastating consequences of global warming on people and their communities are increasingly clear to see and it is frankly unacceptable we cannot all agree when so many lives are at stake.”
Throughout his attendance at COP17, Ethiopian-born Geleta, has called upon the international community to deliver on the Copenhagen and Cancun commitments to increase financing for climate change adaptation.
“Families and communities at risk from the impact of climate change do not need more words but real action. We must demonstrate leadership or we run the risk of being overwhelmed by the humanitarian consequences of climate change.”
Durban, 11 December 2011
Main topics:
- Disaster Management
- Health and Care
- Early warning early action
- Advocacy
- Communications
- Community risk reduction
- Youth
- Getting started
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.
Take a look at Red Cross Red Crescent climate change activities on the worldmap
