IFRC calls for increased climate investment ahead of COP31

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has issued an urgent call to world leaders to increase investments to combat the humanitarian impacts of climate change. This appeal comes ahead of the COP31 summit, which is scheduled to be hosted by Turkey in Antalya from November 9 to 20.

The IFRC highlighted that extreme heat, floods, droughts, and storms are increasingly threatening lives, livelihoods, and health, particularly for communities already facing poverty, conflict, and displacement. The organization noted that the El Nino phenomenon is expected to bring more severe weather events in the coming months, making preparation and adaptation investments critical.

According to an analysis by the IFRC and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), nature-based solutions could reduce the severity of climate and weather-related hazards by an average of 31 percent. The study suggests these solutions could help developing countries prevent annual economic losses of at least 148 billion dollars by 2030 and 577 billion dollars by 2050.