The Ethics of Early Warning Systems for Climate Change - Reducing Disaster: Early Warning Systems for Climate Change - page 274

15.1 Introduction

Developing protection from, and reducing the causes of the harm and suffering
brought on by climate change, is perhaps one of the greatest ethical challenges fac-
ing humanity in the early twenty-fi rst century. Evidence increasingly indicates that
climate change is a real and immediate danger. Powerful and compelling moral
obligations to make changes can be and have been stated, thus crystallizing the
imperative to take action. A problem of this magnitude, however, requires both
short- and long-term goals and preparation. It is beyond the scope and mandate of
this chapter to fully articulate ethical arguments related to climate change; rather,
our task is to review the ethical arguments and challenges inherent in building global
capacity for early warning systems (EWS). Even though time is of the essence, to
date, we have been primarily driven by our anxiety and need to 'do something',
resulting in the adoption of short-term and piecemeal solutions rather than develop-
ing a coherent evidence-based strategy.
In 2005, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for the establishment of a
worldwide early warning system for all natural hazards. The 2010 Cancun
Agreements specifi cally invite 'all Parties to enhance […] climate change related
disaster risk reduction strategies such as early warning systems'. The more recent
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Managing the Risks
of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (IPCC
SREX) concludes that, 'the implementation of early warning systems does reduce
loss of lives and, to a lesser extent, damage to property and was identifi ed […] as
key to reducing impacts from extreme events'. Despite such clear and fi rm endorse-
ments, the creation of early warning systems for climate-related hazards is presently
both limited and spotty in coverage, with a signifi cant portion of resources continu-
ing to be allocated towards cleanup rather than damage prevention.
Ethical questions become quickly apparent as we clearly hold the potential to
minimize and avoid some of the harm and suffering brought on by climate-related
calamities. Furthermore, the ethical principle of justice comes into sharp focus in
the face of the present inconsistent and poorly coordinated early warning systems.
The current network of EWS is dangerously inadequate, and the world's most
vulnerable people continue to feel the brunt of climate change as a result.
Throughout the world, operational details and consistency of standards and
approaches for EWS need to be developed and clarifi ed. Presently, many systems
are limited to a single climate-related risk, and they do not cover the entire early
warning continuum from collection of data to warning delivery and protection
strategies. As a result, the capacity to respond to severe climate threats is therefore
limited and needs to be a more integral part of EWS. Methods seeking to defi ne,
understand and identify vulnerable communities in relation to EWS therefore need
to be refi ned.