SHOULD WE CENTRALIZE CLIMATE EXTREME RECOVERY EFFORTS?

It is a fact that climate change has, and will continue to alter weather patterns on our planet. We are experiencing extreme weather events that have greater intensity and perhaps more frequency than what we consider normal (i.e. the past century or two, since weather has been recorded). We know that these extreme events, and the rapid changes in conditions such as sea level, will impact a growing number of people around the world. Rising sea levels, for example, are expected to displace millions of people in low-lying coastal areas.

Following every climate extreme event, such as a major hurricane, tornado, flood or wildfire, we receive asks from numerous non-profit organizations to donate money for emergency relief efforts. A growing issue for people who want to help is where to donate so it will be the most effective; there might also be a growing donation fatigue as the number of these emergencies continues to grow.

Perhaps there needs to be a centralized organization that would coordinate the distribution of donations for what I will label "climate extreme events." The "Climate Extreme Rescue, Relief and Rebuilding Fund" (the Fund) would accept donations and build a fund to be used for these climate-related emergencies anywhere in the world. The Fund would have to be apolitical, totally transparent, and operated according to clear principles and processes. The Fund would contract with existing non-profit organizations that provide rescue, relief and rebuilding services, based on the specific needs of each situation, and the services, expertise and abilities of each non-profit.

Donations to the Fund would come from individuals, governments and corporations. The Fund would need to be recognized and endorsed by world governments as a trusted apolitical entity. A climate change metric could be used (for example, annual carbon emissions) as a basis for annual funding from world governments and also from carbon-emitting corporations and utilities. The rationale for this funding is that the climate changed by human-related carbon emissions has serious impacts to humanity that must be mitigated in an equitable manner by all of humanity and its institutions.

The world 50 years from now and beyond will be very different than the present in terms of climate-related events and patterns. Scientists and policy-makers involved in climate change research have long recognized that we have moved from the question of "is climate change real" to needing to start mitigating the effects of climate change. Every climate-extreme event requires immediate rescue and relief efforts, as well as long-term rebuilding of damaged infrastructure, homes, institutions, people's lives and the social fabric. Unfortunately, we have seen some efforts that were poorly organized, under funded, and situations that quickly disappeared from the public radar. We need to do better, and doing better will require a more effective and efficient organizational structure than appears to be in place now.

I don't know how this idea can become reality. I initially thought that the Fund could be part of the United Nations; however, that organization is too political to be effective. On the other hand, perhaps the United Nations could be the incubator that gets the Fund up and running, and then spins it off as an independent non-profit global organization. Or perhaps a number of major foundations could pool their efforts to get this started. Yes, a daunting task, but in my opinion, a much needed effort.

---