Red Cross urges climate preparedness funds for UN summit

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies urged leaders heading to the United Nations climate conference in Turkey to increase investment in protecting vulnerable people from the humanitarian effects of climate change.

The IFRC said climate change is spurring extreme heat, floods, droughts and storms that threaten lives, livelihoods and health. It warned that an exceptionally strong El Nino this year is expected to bring further extreme weather, making preparedness and adaptation funding increasingly critical.

The organisation pointed to recent floods in Nepal as an example of the risks and of how preparedness can save lives. It said a school principal who moved hundreds of students to higher ground before a flash flood had received disaster preparedness training from the Nepal Red Cross years earlier.

IFRC Secretary-General Jagan Chapagain said the Nepal case showed what communities can do when they have knowledge and resources before disaster strikes. He said too many communities still lack support to prepare for increasingly severe climate risks.

The IFRC called on governments to put health at the centre of national climate adaptation plans, fulfil commitments made last year to triple adaptation finance by 2035, and invest more in community preparedness, anticipatory action and pre-arranged financing.