Red Cross Climate Ready Communities Project

There is no doubt that climate change is happening and is here to stay. Whether you believe it is the result of human intervention, or simply long-term natural cycles playing out, the result will be the same. Vulnerable communities like Norfolk Island are likely to be hit the hardest, so it's essential that we start putting in place strategies to adapt to the changing conditions.

The Red Cross Climate Ready Communities Program is empowering people to understand the risks they currently face, the way these are changing, and what they can do to build their resilience. Our local team of volunteers is preparing to champion this program and help households and businesses plan practical responses for climate-related emergencies.

Preparing for climate-related emergencies for your household or business involves the following steps:

• Identify the types of risks you face, such as extreme temperatures; prolonged heavy rain that might undermine buildings or cause trees to fall; severe tropical cyclones; outbreaks of disease resulting from weather events;
• Consider how climate events may impact your household or business, such as loss of food production due to heat or excessive rain; breakdown in supply chains such as animal feed or fertilisers; illness or death due to heat stress;
• Start planning steps you can take to mitigate the impact of various possible climate events for your household or business, for example, install ceiling fans in key areas of the house; practice protecting your home from bushfires; have conversations with family, work colleagues, friends and neighbours about climate change risks and how you can support each other during an emergency;
• From these conversations, make a list of (a) the things you personally can do to prepare for climate events, (b) what help you would need from others to prepare for an event and who you could get help from, and (c) the resources you have to help others in the face of a climate related event.

Over the coming months, the local Red Cross Community Engagement Team will be holding workshops to help our community prepare for climate-related events that could disrupt our lives. We are keen to connect with other members of the community who can contribute towards strengthening community preparedness. If you would like to help please call Kate Lemerle (Team Convenor) on 52112 or email bushtucka@iinet.net.au