Publications
Early Warning, Early Action: An Evaluation, 2008
November 05 2009by IFRC
In 2008, the West/Central Africa Zone (WCAZ) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for the first time ever initiated an emergency appeal based on a seasonal climate forecast. Seasonal forecasts were being monitored more closely by the Zone in light of concerns about increasing risk of intense rainfall events related to global climate change. In May 2008, the seasonal forecast anticipated above-normal rainfall for the upcoming rainy season, implying above-normal flood risk. Having been caught off-guard by devastating floods in 2007, the WCAZ decided to take a series of actions to improve flood management and response in preparation for the 2008 rainy season. These actions included pre-positioning relief items, improving disaster response capacity through trainings, development of flood contingency plans, and launching of pre-emergency funding requests for preparedness activities and response.
Download the complete document here 
(pdf, 4 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
