1.5C degrees exceeded for a year and a half – greater demand for Red Cross Red Crescent climate action than ever before

The Earth is now warming at an unprecedent rate. January was the 18th of the last 19 months when it was more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial level, nudging the planet closer to a breach of the Paris 1.5°C threshold as an average spanning decades.

“We have entered uncharted territory. The natural and weather systems of the Earth are now changing rapidly in ways that we do not fully understand,” says Aditya Bahadur, the Director of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre.

The Climate Centre, located in The Hague, is an independent institution that promotes climate action and know-how within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. The objective of the Centre is to bring together science, climate policies and practice for the Movement and stakeholders. The Centre also provides input to international climate negotiations. The Finnish Red Cross contributes to the funding the work of the Climate Centre from its disaster relief fund.

Aditya Bahadur lists the most urgent actions to slow down the rate of climate change and mitigate its consequences for people in the most vulnerable positions. 

1 Integrate climate change in all decision-making

Aditya Bahadur emphasizes that each decision concerning the economy, construction and investments must take climate change into account. Decision-makers and major international operators, such as companies, need to make more significant decisions faster than before to slow down climate change and reduce emissions. 

“Climate change is not a separate issue; it needs to be a key part of each decision in society.”  

2 More information on climate change

According to the Director of the Climate Centre, we need more accurate, higher-quality data on how climate change is affecting us.

“Information should also be gathered through new ways, such as by harnessing mobile phones to collect accurate local temperature data that helps prepare for heat waves. Artificial intelligence could  also help process large amounts of data on climate change. 

More accurate and higher-quality data would help with both decision-making and with adapting to the consequences of climate change.” 

3 More power to the locally led climate action

Local communities and people are the first to face the consequences of climate change. Already now, locals have needed to look for solutions on how to adapt to climate change.   The Red Cross and Red Crescent are in a unique position to engage in climate action. National Societies works in areas where the consequences of climate change are the most severe.  

“Local actors need to have more influence and funding for making decisions on climate change actions.” 

4 Investments in educating people

Bahadur says that most of the world’s investments go to infrastructure, such as buildings, dams, flood defence and industrial structures. Investments in educating people, however, remain at a low level.

“People working in public services, hospitals, public transport or factories need to be better informed so that they can understand how climate change is affecting their work. Only then can they prepare and adapt to the climate change and increase the climate resilience of these systems. 

5 New funding for climate action

Aditya Bahadur feels that there is currently a big gap between the demand for funding in climate action and the actual funding received. Additionally, too little of this funding is allocated to adapting to climate change. Accessing international funding is too difficult and the process is slow on the local level. 

“In addition to the traditional international funding mechanisms, we need innovative funding, for example from the private sector and in the form of loans and insurance.”  

6 Cities on the frontlines of climate change

Most of the world’s population lives in cities. A majority of these cities are by the coast or along rivers, making them vulnerable to rising sea levels and flooding. At the same time, 80% of all emissions on Earth are generated in cities.

“The battle against climate change will be won or lost in cities. Cities must be at the centre of climate action.”