Climate witness: community toolkit

Abstract

The Pacific islands are uniquely vulnerable to a variety of unpredictable events - natural disasters, including potential climate change impact, as well as health emergencies. The region is made up of mainly very small countries with poor socio-economic development. These and other contextual factors result in unique challenges in building systems, skills and experience necessary to maintain and promote a well functioning national society. Also, due to a lack of economies of scale, running these national societies, International Federation offices and actions in the region entails a relatively large cost. By promoting and facilitating greater coordination and cooperation between the national societies and the wider Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, these challenges can be mitigated to a certain extent, helping to lower the vulnerability of the general population in the island countries to health and natural disaster emergencies.