How do we address the humanitarian consequences of climate change?

Climate change has become a global humanitarian crisis which affects the health and living conditions of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. It acts as an additional driver, pushing vulnerable rural people towards the progressively expanding urban areas worldwide, and changes the risk patterns in already stressed, and often fragile, environments.

Time: 25th of March 2021, 13:00-14:15 (CET) Place: The event will take place online, in Microsoft Teams

Hear climate researcher and Director of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre, Maarten van Alst, and Associate Professor of Law, Miriam Cullen, talk about their respective research focusing on the consequences of lack of action and the international legal protections for people displaced or otherwise affected by climate change.

Get valuable insight into climate change adaptation and resilience-building initiatives, forecast-based action, and how to address the increasing climate-related displacement in urban areas with the Deputy Secretary General of Kenya Red Cross, Annette Msabeni-Ngoye.

Ask questions, participate and engage with our panel of representatives from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a country representation (tbc) and Roberto Forin from the Mixed Migration Centre, as they discuss how to address the humanitarian consequences of climate change.

Programme

13.00-13.10 Welcome
By Moderator, Verner Kristiansen and introductory remarks by Peter Klansø, International Director, Danish Red Cross.

13.10-13.20 Come Heat or High Water: How do we tackle the impact of the climate crisis globally?
By Maarten van Alst, Director for the Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre
What is the impact on communities most at risk? Maarten van der Alst takes us through the findings of the recently published World Disasters Report, on the consequences of climate change and the need to act now, and potential ways of addressing these consequences.

13.20-13.30 Legal Protections in the Context of Climate Related Displacement
By Miriam Cullen, Assistant Professor, Copenhagen University
Miriam Cullen takes us through her current research on the displacement effects of disasters and climate change and the frameworks in place for addressing the needs and protection of climate displaced persons.

13.30-13.40 How Kenya Red Cross works to address consequences of climate change and displacement
By Annette Msabeni-Ngoye, Deputy Secretary General, Kenya Red Cross
Anette Msabeni-Ngoye will highlight some of the primary consequences and concerns for vulnerable communities in Kenya, and how Kenya Red Cross works to address these through climate change adaptation and resilience-building initiatives, forecast-based action and by addressing increasing climate related displacements in urban areas – in partnership with other actors.

13.40-14.10 Panel Discussion: How do we address climate change & climate displacement?
The speakers will be joined by Karin Poulsen, Danish Ambassador to Ethiopia and a country representation (tbc) as well as Mr. Roberto Forin from the Mixed Migration Centre in a moderated discussion with questions from online participants as well.

14.10-14.15 Summary and Closing
By Moderator, Verner Kristiansen and Peter Klansø, International Director, Danish Red Cross

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