Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks

Session title: Campaigning to Reduce Avoidable Deaths in a Climate-Challenged World

Organizer(s): Avoidable Deaths Network (ADN)

4 Mar 26 15:30-17:00 UTC+1

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SessionAbstract

This session will explore the critical question: Why do we campaign to reduce avoidable deaths?

We will examine the essential campaigns and initiatives—from local grassroots movements to global events—that are actively working to mitigate the tragic loss of lives and livelihoods resulting from climate-related disasters and their cascading impacts. Campaigns are powerful tools, led by individuals, multi-lateral organisations, and informal groups. We will delve into:

• Motivation and Drive: What fuels these individuals and organisations to take action?

• Value and Impact: What unique value do these campaigns bring to the humanitarian sector?

• Achieving Equity: What are their ultimate aims in securing equity, justice, and a sustainable future?

The Avoidable Deaths Network (ADN) marks March 12th annually as the International Day for Avoidable Deaths (IAD4AD). This month-long campaign, celebrated across 20+ countries in 2025, has successfully inspired numerous local and national initiatives, often led by non-mainstream members. IAD4AD has also attracted many such local and national-level campaigns, and this session will feature an eclectic showcase of 10 such campaigns. Attendees will gain insight into the passion, motivation, and practical drive fuelling these global and local campaigns to prevent the most tragic consequence of climate change: the avoidable loss of human life from the direct and indirect impact of a climate-related disaster.

The objectives of this Session
are:

Raise the
visibility of global and local campaigns addressing the climate crisis and
reducing avoidable disaster deaths.
Foster
synergies with other campaigns to strengthen and elevate the ADN’s global
initiative, IAD4AD, on a worldwide scale.
Identify the
strengths and limitations of campaigns promoting equity and social justice.

Speakers

Chair/s

Prof. Nibedita S. Ray-Bennett (University of Leicester, England)

Dr. Hideyuki Shiroshita (Kansai University, Japan)

Prof. Alois Hirschmugl (DMAT Consulting KG, Austria)

Speakers/ Experts/ Etc.

Rtd. Col. Sanjay Srivastava (Lightning Resilient India Campaign)

Mr. Vishal Pathak (Extreme Heat Mitigation Campaign)

Dr Fatima Akter (Early Warning for All (EW4ALL))

Md. Asad Tahir Jappa (Sustainable Development Goals)

Mr. Kentaro Murakami (Sea Side Gallery Campaign)

Prof. Nibedita Ray-Bennett and Dr Hideyuki Shiroshita (Global Campaign: International Awareness Day for Avoidable Deaths (IAD4AD))

Mr. Rafiqul Montu (Coast Day and World Coast Day Campaign)

Speaker TBC (World Drowning Prevention Day, WHO)

Speaker TBC (International Snakebite Awareness Day)

Mr. Ranjan Panda (Plastic-Free Picnic Challenge)