Youth making a move on climate change. - Climate Centre
Youth making a move on climate change. - Climate Centre
Youth making a move on climate change. - Climate Centre
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<str<strong>on</strong>g>Youth</str<strong>on</strong>g><str<strong>on</strong>g>making</str<strong>on</strong>g>a<str<strong>on</strong>g>move</str<strong>on</strong>g><strong>on</strong><strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>.THEYOUNGHUMANITARIAN’SGUIDETOMAKINGAMOVEONTHEIMPACTSOFCLIMATECHANGEHaveyoutakenupthe<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>challenge?
Whythisguidenow?FACT: WEATHER RELATEDDISASTERS HAVE DOUBLED INTHE PAST 20 YEARS!<strong>Centre</strong>forResearch<strong>on</strong>theEpidemiologyofDisastersNaF<strong>on</strong>alSocieFesaroundtheworldhavebeenlookingatthequesF<strong>on</strong>of<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>throughthe4Step“Preparednessfor<strong>Climate</strong>Change”Programme.ManyNaF<strong>on</strong>alSocieFeshavefoundthatyoungpeoplewanttogetinvolvedintheissueandhaveaskedformaterials.Thisshortguidepresentsexamplesfromaroundtheworld.going<strong>on</strong>?“InFebruary2007itwasthefirst>memycommunityalsogettheflooding.Itneverhappenedbefore.Ithinktheweatherischanging”SuvinaNitaYohana,Ind<strong>on</strong>esianRedCrossCars,planes,buses,factories,thefellingoftrees,evencowsallreleasegasesthatspreadaroundtheearth’satmosphere.Thesegasesactlikeablanketaroundtheearthle(nglessheatescapeintospace.Theyarecalled‘greenhousegases’becausetheyactjustlikeagreenhouse,astructureusedincold<strong>climate</strong>stotrapthesun’sheatandgrowvegetablesin.Greenhousegasescauseourearthtograduallywarmupandthisisknownas‘globalwarming’.It,inturn,causesourweatherand<strong>climate</strong>to<strong>change</strong>inmanydifferentways–hencetheterm‘<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>’.Changesinour<strong>climate</strong>arealreadyhappening.Speakingtocommunityeldersorgrandparentsmayhighlighttheirpers<strong>on</strong>alexperiencesofachanging<strong>climate</strong>.ScienFstsaroundtheworldhavemeasuredthatglaciersaremelFng,thesealevelisrising,rainfallpaGernsarechangingandthattherehavebeenincreasesinthenumberofdroughts,floodsandheatwaves.Theplanethaswarmedbyover0.7degreesCelsius(33.26degreesFahrenheit)inthepasthundredyears.Thisdoesn’tsoundlikemuchbutthinkofapaFentwithafever–aslightlyhighertemperatureshowsthatsomethingisverywr<strong>on</strong>g!Andthisisjustatasteofthingstocome.EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU CAN DO:Learnmoreabout<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>inyourcountry•Raiseawarenessabout<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>•Volunteertogetyouthvoicesheard•Gettogetherinagrouptodiscuss<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>andcreateaprojecttoaddressitsimpactsinyourcommunity
AFRICA<strong>Climate</strong><strong>change</strong>directlyaffectstheRedCrossandRedCrescent’scorework:assistancetothemostvulnerable.Wearec<strong>on</strong>cernedabout<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>becauseitwillmakeusmorevulnerabletodisastersandhealthproblemsandthosethatarealreadypoorandvulnerablearemostatrisk.PeopleinthepoorestcommuniFeswillbehithardestbythenegaFveimpactsof<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>,whiletheyc<strong>on</strong>tributetheleasttotheproblem.Themoregasesintheatmosphere,themoreproblemswewillface.Theworstl<strong>on</strong>gtermaffectscansFllbeavoidedifgreenhousegasesarereducedgloballyandinternaF<strong>on</strong>aleffortsareunderway.ButwehavecommiGedourselvestoanother30‐40yearsofwarmingbecausethegaseswehavealreadyemiGedstayaroundforal<strong>on</strong>gFme.SoweneedtogetacFvetopreparefortheimpacts!TheRedCrossandRedCrescent–parFcularlyNaF<strong>on</strong>alSocieFesindevelopedcountries–candotheirshareinlimiFngglobalemissi<strong>on</strong>s,forinstancebypromoFngenergyefficiencyintheiroffices.Butourmainresp<strong>on</strong>sibilityisclear:with<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>wemustaddressthehumanitarianc<strong>on</strong>sequences.Forexamplewemustresp<strong>on</strong>dtoincreasingrisksofdisastersand<strong>change</strong>stowhenandwherediseasesarefound.BeingpreparedfordisastersbylearningfirstaidandvolunteeringforyourNaF<strong>on</strong>alSocietyisagreatwaytotackletheimpactsof<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>.IdenFfyacF<strong>on</strong>sthatcouldbetakentoreducetheimpactofdisastersbeforetheyhappen.Examplesincludeclearingrubbishfromdrainsinfloodpr<strong>on</strong>eareas,<str<strong>on</strong>g>making</str<strong>on</strong>g>surelooseobjectsareclearedbeforethecycl<strong>on</strong>eseas<strong>on</strong>,educaFngpeopleaboutunderstandingearlywarnings,<str<strong>on</strong>g>making</str<strong>on</strong>g>surechildrenknowhowtoswimasaprecauF<strong>on</strong>againstfloodingandpromoFngwisewateruseindroughtpr<strong>on</strong>eareas.SeethenextsecF<strong>on</strong>formoreexamples!doestheRedCrossRedCrescentcare?InMalawi,15highschoolstudentsfromLil<strong>on</strong>gwebecameRedCrossvolunteersandmadeafilmwiththeassistanceofafilmstudent.Thefilmexplainedthe<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>problemandstepspeoplecantaketoadapttoachanging<strong>climate</strong>,suchastreeplanFngtoprotectwaterwaysfromflooderosi<strong>on</strong>.ThestudentsinterviewedpeopleinbothruralandurbanareastocomparetheirsituaF<strong>on</strong>s,andgotlocalexpertstotalkabout<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>.InasevereCholeraoutbreakinZimbabwein2008,hundredsofyouthvolunteerslearnedabouthygiene,sanitaF<strong>on</strong>andhowtomanagesickpeopleanddeliverededucaF<strong>on</strong>programmestoreducetheimpactoffurtheroutbreaks.Choleraspreadsindirtywaterandduringheavyrainfallitwillspreadmore.Therewillbemoreheavyrainfallwith<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>.AcF<strong>on</strong>slikethesecanbepartofthetoolkittoaddressaworsening<strong>climate</strong>.<str<strong>on</strong>g>Youth</str<strong>on</strong>g>volunteersofMediterraneanNaF<strong>on</strong>alSocieFescometogetherforanannualcamp,AtlanFs.A2008campworkshopfocused<strong>on</strong><strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>andpreparingcommuniFesbyeducaFngpeopleatthegrassrootslevel<strong>on</strong>howtoadapttoitsimpact.In2009,thecampwillagainfocus<strong>on</strong><strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>,teachingyoungpeoplehowtomakesimplevideos.
InGuatemala,youngRedCrossvolunteersareinvolvedinplanFngtreeswhichbothprotectcommuniFesfromlandslidesandabsorbcarb<strong>on</strong>dioxidefromtheatmosphere.WithseveralpartnerorganizaF<strong>on</strong>s,theRedCrossalsoheldapainFngc<strong>on</strong>testfocused<strong>on</strong>riskreducF<strong>on</strong>.Morethan2,500childrentookpart.AMERICASElsewhereintheAmericas,theCostaRicaRedCrosshasengagedyoungpeopleinclean‐upcampaigns,andhascreatedamanualtofosterenvir<strong>on</strong>mentalawarenessandcareforpreciouswaterresources.TheColombiaRedCrosshasusedapuppetshowtodeliverimportantmessages.EUROPEAteamatBri>shRedCrosscreatedadisastermasterstoolkitthattakesitsparFcipantsthroughathree‐hourroleplay<strong>on</strong>thethemeof<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>anddisastersusingafloodingscenariofromthesmallislandnaF<strong>on</strong>ofTuvalu.Thescenarioisanexcellentwaytoraiseawarenessoftheincreaseinweather‐relateddisastersandthechallengesthisposestocommuniFesaroundtheworld.InTheNetherlands,aRedCrosseducaF<strong>on</strong>campaigntook<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>toelementaryschoolswithsuchthingsasquizzesanddrawingc<strong>on</strong>tests.Childrenin<strong>on</strong>eareacombinedthecoursewithdirectacF<strong>on</strong><strong>on</strong>heatwaveawareness.TheyvisitedreFrementhomestoinformtheelderlyabouthealthrisksanddosandd<strong>on</strong>’tsduringheatwaves.Anincreaseinheatwavesisbut<strong>on</strong>ec<strong>on</strong>sequenceofarapidlychangingplanet.“<strong>Climate</strong><strong>change</strong>isaglobalissueanditrequiresaglobaleffort.<str<strong>on</strong>g>Youth</str<strong>on</strong>g>canplayaveryimportantroleintheircommuni>es,theircountryandtheirregi<strong>on</strong>.Theywillbethe<strong>on</strong>esfacingtheimpactsof<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>nowandintothefuturesoitsimportantthattheyknowtheissuenow”GeorgeBaragamu,Solom<strong>on</strong>IslandsRedCross
“We,themilli<strong>on</strong>sofRedCrossRedCrescentyouth,cantakeac><strong>on</strong>toreducetheimpactof<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>bypreparingourcommuni>estodealwiththec<strong>on</strong>sequences.”Theac><strong>on</strong>syouandyourgrouptakewillbedeterminedby:•Thechallengesyourcommunityfaces;•Thec<strong>on</strong>cernsandideasofyourgroupmembers;•Theskillsyourgroupalreadyhasandwhatyouhavetoworkwith.canwedo?ThefollowingstepshavebeeninspiredbytheAllianceof<str<strong>on</strong>g>Youth</str<strong>on</strong>g>CEO’s‘<strong>Climate</strong>Change–TakeAc><strong>on</strong>Now’Guidetobepublishedin2009GETTING STARTEDFindoutmoreabout<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>•GatherinformaF<strong>on</strong>about<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>(theinternet,resourcebooks,interviewswithcommunityeldersorlocalexperts,atalktoyouryouthgrouporNaF<strong>on</strong>alSociety)•Drawtheproblemsyouhavediscoveredwithyoungpeopleinyourcommunity•Listallthehazardsyourcommunityfacesandselectwhicharerelatedtotheweatherand<strong>climate</strong>•Mapthecommunity(strengthsandweaknesses—put<strong>on</strong>your<strong>climate</strong>glassesanddrawamapoutliningpotenFalimpacts;thinkofthingslikeflooding,sealevelrise,erosi<strong>on</strong>,drought,wateravailability,foodsources)Tip:YoucanusetoolsfromtheIFRCVulnerabilityandCapacityAssessmentToolkit—seelinkatthebackofthisbooklet.IDENTIFYINGtheproblemandlinkingittocurrentwork•Nowthatyouhavelearnedabouttheimpactsof<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong><strong>on</strong>yourcommunity,idenFfyaproblemthatyouwouldliketowork<strong>on</strong>.HelpyourgroupcreatealistofpossibleacF<strong>on</strong>stheycouldtaketotackleit.Remembertothinkaboutthemostvulnerable,inyourcommunityandfurtherafield.Youcouldlistalltheissuesandthentakeavote.•Nowit’sFmetoinvesFgatefurther.Whatistheproblem?Whyisitaproblem?Whoisaffectedbytheproblem?Whathascausedtheproblem?Iden>fyexis>ngprojectsItiscriFcaltoknowwhatthecommunityhasd<strong>on</strong>eandisdoingtoaddresstheproblemsothattheacF<strong>on</strong>sofyourgroupareintunewith,andgainthesupportof,thecommunity.Whoisdoingwhatalready?Whatareyourskills?Howcanthesematchwiththeproblemathand?Howcanyoubeapartofwhatisalreadyunderway?WhichtoolsortrainingsareusedinyourNaF<strong>on</strong>alSocietythat<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>canbeaddedto?
PLANNING YOUR ACTIONAsagroup,younowhaveagoodideaofwhereyouareandwhereyouwanttobegoing.Nowyouneedaplanofhowtogetthere.Askyourselves:Whyisyourprojectimportantandwhyareyouthebestgrouptotacklethisproblem?Whatdoyouwanttoachieve?Whodoyouwanttotarget?Whereisthebestplacetorunyourproject?Whenwillyourunyourproject,andforhowl<strong>on</strong>g?WhocanimplementtheidenFfiedproject?Ifthisisnotyou,howcanyoupersuadetheidenFfiedpers<strong>on</strong>tocarryouttheacF<strong>on</strong>?Whatresourceswillberequired(thinkaboutm<strong>on</strong>ey,technology,people,experFseandothermaterials)?Whatskills/knowledgeareneeded?Whohastherelevantskills/knowledgeandhowcanwegettheminvolved?Ifweneedfunding,howcanwegetit?Carryingoutyourownfundraisingcanworkwell.CanyoulinkinwithanexisFngprojectinyourarea?Getothersinvolvedandenthused.CommunicaFngandinvolvingothersinthecommunityisanimportantcomp<strong>on</strong>entofyourgroup’ssuccess.Seta>me‐frameTAKING ACTIONNowforthemostimportantstep:implementa><strong>on</strong>!Ac>vitytoolkit:thereismuchthatcanbed<strong>on</strong>e!SeeexamplesinthisbookletforsomeacFviFesthatfallundertheheadingsof:1.Raisingawarenessabout<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>2.Ac><strong>on</strong>stopreparefortheimpactsof<strong>climate</strong><strong>change</strong>(HowcanwebeproacFvebeforeahealthoutbreakordisasterstrikes?CanyouusetheVulnerabilityandCapacityAssessmentorCommunityBasedHealthandFirstAid?)3.Persuadingthosewithpowertomakea<strong>change</strong>(advocacy)SPREADING THE WORDCommunicaF<strong>on</strong>saresoimportantinge(ngvoicesheardandpeopletolisten.Howwillyougetmessagesacross?Drama?Communityradio?Televisi<strong>on</strong>,internet,video,artwork,photographs,wordofmouth?Home‐madeposters?Getawell‐knownpers<strong>on</strong>topromoteforyou.Youcouldinvitethemediaal<strong>on</strong>gorproduceashortpressrelease.Learninginafunwayhelpsustorememberbeferandwesawhowdisasteraffectswholecommuni>es”.“TrudieHamilt<strong>on</strong>,England
NEXT STEPSFollowingthrough<strong>on</strong>yourproject.Yourgroup’sacF<strong>on</strong>mayhavebeenshort‐term.However,itispossiblethatthereareacF<strong>on</strong>syouneedtotaketosustainwhatyouhavestarted.Developingyourac><strong>on</strong>.Ifyourgroup’sacF<strong>on</strong>wassuccessful,howcantheybuild<strong>on</strong>whattheydid?StartagainfromStep2.AnotheropF<strong>on</strong>istogobacktothelistofchallengesyourgroupcreatedinStep2.Nowthatthey’vemadeadifferenceto<strong>on</strong>eoftheseproblems,theycouldc<strong>on</strong>siderchoosinganotherchallengetowork<strong>on</strong>.Inspireothers.Yourgroup’sexperience,moFvaF<strong>on</strong>andpassi<strong>on</strong>for<strong>change</strong>couldinspireotheryoungpeopletotakeacF<strong>on</strong>themselves.Challengeyourgrouptoc<strong>on</strong>siderwhichotherindividuals,organisaF<strong>on</strong>sorgroupstheycouldtarget!HOW DID WE DO?Ques><strong>on</strong>sforreflec><strong>on</strong>.ThefollowingquesF<strong>on</strong>smayhelpyourgroupthinkaboutthesuccessesoftheirprojectandwhatcouldhaveg<strong>on</strong>ebeGer.Remember,evenifyouthinktheprojectdidn’tgooverlywell,reflecF<strong>on</strong>isaFmetodebriefandalsolearnless<strong>on</strong>sfornextFme.•Howdidyoufeelabouttakingpartintheproject?•Whatwassuccessfulabouttheproject?Diditachieveitsgoals?DiditcreateanylasFng<strong>change</strong>s?Werethereanyunexpectedoutcomes?•Howmanypeopleheardaboutyourproject?Whodidyoutell?Howmanypeopleheardthroughthemedia?•Whatsurprisedyou?Whatdoyouthinkyouhavelearnt?Doyouthinktheprojecthas<strong>change</strong>dyourviews<strong>on</strong>anythingoryouracF<strong>on</strong>sinthefuture?•Didyourprojecthaveanimpact<strong>on</strong>anyoftheotherproblemsthatyouidenFfiedinStep2?Forexample:ifyoumappedyourcommunityforrisks.•Wasanythingabouttheprojectunsuccessful?Diditcreateanynewproblems?•Ifyouweretorepeatthisprojectwhatwouldyoudodifferently?•HoweffecFvelydidthegroupworktogether?Didevery<strong>on</strong>ehaveasenseofparFcipaF<strong>on</strong>?Weredecisi<strong>on</strong>sandresp<strong>on</strong>sibiliFessharedbythegroup?Letpeopleknowaboutyoursuccess.Checktheseusefulpagesout!www.<strong>climate</strong>centre.orgRedCross/RedCrescent<strong>Climate</strong><strong>Centre</strong>www.ifrc.orgInternaF<strong>on</strong>alFederaF<strong>on</strong>ofRedCrossandRedCrescentSocieFes(Vulnerability&CapacityAssessmenttoolbox)www.childreninachanging<strong>climate</strong>.orgChildreninachanging<strong>climate</strong>iniFaFvewww.extremeweatherheroes.orgAreyouanextremeweatherhero?www.unicef.org/publica><strong>on</strong>s/index_42166.html(UNICEF’s<strong>Climate</strong><strong>change</strong>andchildrenpublicaF<strong>on</strong>)www.ipcc.ch–TheIntergovernmentalPanel<strong>on</strong><strong>Climate</strong>Change(IPCC)
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