Publications
World Disasters Report 2009
July 01 2009by IFRC
Chapter 3: Early warning, early action - bridging timescales
Chapter 3 shows how information on all timescales can inform early action and highlights challenges in putting longer-term early warnings to use.
Faced with rising risks associated with climate change, early action is more important than ever, but it works best when it spans a range of timescales – anticipating disaster by days, months, even decades. In the very long term, this “disaster risk reduction” could include adjusting development plans and enforcing building codes, but also working with local communities to assess the risks they face – particularly when these are increasing.
Many scientific agencies have a mandate to contribute to development plans and are eager to do so. But early-warning products can be too technical and include large uncertainties, and they do not naturally lead humanitarian actors to a decision. Donors cannot afford to only fund disaster response: both development assistance and humanitarian action can be made more effective by increased early action. Read full chapter 
(pdf, 417 kB).
Download the complete report (pdf, 3 MB).
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
