Summer of climate emergencies sees a surge of people getting prepared for climate change, finds British Red Cross

• Almost three quarters (72%) of adults in Wales are more concerned about climate change following recent extreme weather events, including the wildfires and flooding experienced across Europe this summer
• Four out of five (80%) adults in Wales anticipate having to take action against the impact of climate change – from sandbags to bulk buying – with 28% saying their day-to-day life has already been affected by climate change
• The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement is supporting people caught up in climate-related emergencies, helping them to prepare, respond and recover. Visit redcross.org.uk/climate to find out more and donate.

New research launched by the British Red Cross has found that over three quarters of people in Wales believe the effects of climate change are happening now (76%), with 28% saying that their day-to-day life has already been affected by climate change in recent years.

18% of UK adults (equivalent to 9.7 million people) say they have already prepared for a climate emergency, while 78% (equivalent to 41 million UK adults) anticipate having to take action against the impact of climate change in future.

In Wales, just over one in ten people (11%) said they have prepared for a climate emergency, with four out of five (80%) anticipating having to take action against the impact of climate change in future. Many anticipate needing to pack emergency bags with essential supplies (12%), bulk buy food and water (15%), and store sandbags (9%).

Anxiety around climate has been heightened after a summer of climate emergencies, according to the new research by the British Red Cross.

• Almost three quarters (72%) of adults in Wales are more concerned about climate change following recent extreme weather events.

• More than half (58%) of adults in Wales say that flooding in the UK (58%), wildfires in Australia (60%) and in Greece (60%) have made them feel more anxious about climate change.  Many people also pointed to UK (50%) and in Southern Europe (53%) heatwaves, and floods in Germany (50%), as increasing their climate anxiety

Red Cross teams have been at the forefront of efforts to support communities impacted by these devastating extreme-weather events, such as the wildfires that tore through many countries including Greece, Turkey and Italy.

The British Red Cross says that while the Red Cross has seen a clear rise in climate-related weather emergencies across the 192 countries it works in worldwide, there are also positive, proactive steps being taken to support communities to prepare and recover from the impacts of climate change.

Henry Barnes, Emergency Response Operations Manager at the British Red Cross said:

“People are feeling the impact of climate change, whether they’re here in the UK or overseas.

Many of the stories we hear about climate change are frightening and overwhelming. But we can also take positive steps to prepare. Red Cross teams are on the ground now, helping communities adapt, respond and recover from the impacts of the changing climate. A major focus of our work involves anticipating and supporting communities ahead of large-scale weather events, such as flooding.

There are small things we can all do to prepare for emergencies before they happen, like learning first aid, putting together an emergency kit with important telephone numbers, papers and any essential medication, and thinking about older and vulnerable people who live nearby.

The Red Cross is empowering communities to become resilient in the face of climate change, giving people the tools and knowledge they need to protect their families, homes and livelihoods. Visit redcross.org.uk/climate to find out more and donate to support our work.”

Earlier this summer, the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement supported communities across Europe who were ravaged by wildfires.

In July, wildfires quickly spread in the vicinity of Oristano town, Sardinia. Around 1,500 people were evacuated, with more than 20,000 hectares of farmland, including many farm houses and livestock, left devastated by the blaze.

The Italian Red Cross played an integral role in the evacuation operation, providing a wildfire fighting unit and a number of ambulances. More than 100 Red Cross volunteers also collected, transferred and distributed of more than 170 tonnes of fodder to support livestock in the affected area.

A local resident affected by the fires said: “It was hard, very hard. Both for the first days after the wildfire on the night of 24 July, and for the following days because of some other fires.

Then it was also hard to help other people who had damages, several damages not only to their livestock but also their vineyards and olive tree groves.

This support [from the Red Cross] is like a blessing. It is touching to realise that people from all around Italy mobilised to help us.”

The new research by the British Red Cross coincides with the launch of new social media filters, which show users looking worse for wear as their faces and backdrops transform and take on the effects of extreme weather including, flooding, heatwaves, wildfires and drought.

The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement is working in 192 countries across the world to help communities stand strong in the face of the changing climate. To find out more, visit their work in action at redcross.org.uk/climate