Description:

Extreme weather events, especially in the context of extreme heat and cold-related emergencies, carry a significant humanitarian impact across the globe, increasing mortality rates and impacting the most marginalized. The Canadian Red Cross (CRC) provides a coordinated response in collaboration with RCRC movement partners and respective governments around the world during climate-related disasters. CRC's Emergency Response Unit has developed an innovative Climate Hub- a physical site transformed from existing equipment that provides support in the event of extreme heat/cold, and adverse air-quality events. Its design can provide shelter, added capacity, and tailored services to meet community needs. Specialized tents, deployable around the country, feature heating, cooling, and HEPA air filtration to control temperature and reduce levels of wildfire smoke particles inside the tent to help individuals breathe clean air. Our recent experiences in domestic climate response provide us with valuable insight into optimizing climate emergency preparedness both in Canada and globally. This symposium will provide insight into our Climate Hub and strategies for a way forward to best respond to the climate crisis.

Gain new perspectives on i) trends/current needs around the climate emergency ii) lessons learned from the recent Climate Hub deployment iii) strategies to integrate innovative solutions to respond to the climate crisis in Canada and globally.

3 panelists from CRC will highlight the Climate Hub and lessons learned from its recent deployment. Participants with gain insight into how emergency responders can best prepare to mobilize humanitarian aid and provide equitable emergency services in the face of escalating climate crises. Topics include i) the Climate Hub and its implementation in Canada with global scale-up ii) impact of the Climate Hub deployed in specific communities and iii) how humanitarian responders can tailor services using the Climate Hub as a site.

1) Showcase CRC's Climate Hub as an innovative and versatile solution to effectively respond to climate emergencies. 2) Share practical insights into operational lessons learned pertaining to the Climate Hub. 3) Strengthen cross-sectoral opportunities for innovative collaborations with the humanitarian sector to provide a coordinated emergency response to climate emergencies.

LIVE TRANSCRIPTION