The climate crisis is a humanitarian crisis (Europe’s record summer ‘impossible’ without global heating, 3 November). More frequent and intense extreme weather events, driven by our greenhouse gas emissions, mean more disasters for the world’s most vulnerable people, especially those already facing conflict, displacement and hunger. Children, women, older people and people with disabilities are always the worst affected.
The recent IPCC report warns that without immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in emissions, limiting global warming to 1.5C degrees will not be achieved. Every fraction of a degree will threaten more lives and livelihoods.
As agencies dealing with humanitarian crises, we – the 15 charities that make up the Disasters Emergency Committee – stand ready to respond to these disasters alongside our local partners, and are helping people to adapt. However, we urge governments meeting at Cop26 to urgently reduce global emissions, meet their commitments to finance mitigation and adaptation measures to protect at-risk communities, and to address loss and damage that has already occurred or is unavoidable. As president of the summit, the UK government must ensure those most vulnerable to the climate crisis are at the heart of solutions and policies agreed.
The risks of disaster must be lessened by increasing the resilience of these communities. But if we fail to prevent runaway global heating, the increasing number and severity of cyclones, droughts, floods and heatwaves could overwhelm our ability to respond, putting millions more lives in danger.
Jean-Michel Grand Executive director, Action Against Hunger UK
Frances Longley Chief executive officer, ActionAid UK
Chris Roles Managing director, Age International
Mike Adamson Chief executive officer, British Red Cross
Christine Allen Director, Cafod
Laurie Lee Chief executive, Care International UK
Amanda Khozi Mukwashi Chief executive officer, Christian Aid
Danny Harvey Executive director, Concern Worldwide (UK)
Laura Kyrke-Smith Executive director, International Rescue Committee UK
Tufail Hussain Executive director, Islamic Relief
Danny Sriskandarajah Chief executive officer, Oxfam GB
Rose Caldwell Chief executive officer, Plan International UK
Gwen Hines Chief executive officer, Save the Children UK
Nigel Harris Chief executive officer, Tearfund
Mark Sheard Chief executive officer, World Vision UK
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