Abbey Abramson

  Risks and emergency management in climate change Speed without “disaster capitalism”: designing controls that survive the rush Pre-disaster contracts and vendor pools The IFRC ’s Emergency Response Framework and DREF guidance say rapid response means higher risk. But this risk can be managed. Pre-qualified vendor pools, framework agreements, and vetted specifications speed procurement while reducing collusion (IFRC, 2025; IFRC DREF, 2020). Radical transparency defaults Adopt a 10-day rule : Publish every emergency contract within ten days with the supplier, including unit prices, quantities, delivery evidence, and beneficial owners. Where countries adopted ProZorro-style open data and dashboards, competition widened and savings increased (OCP, 2024; OCP impact story: Ukraine).  Emergency awards should auto-check ownership against sanctions and past performance. Blacklists should be centralized and public. Otherwise, suspended firms return under new names. The International ...

  Marginalised groups' vulnerability to climate change impacts At the margins of decision-making: women, IPs, and fisherfolk Gendered vulnerability—and missing seats IPCC AR6 and UN bodies underscore what practitioners observe daily: climate risks are differentiated by gender, wealth, location, and identity, and adaptation is more effective when governance is inclusive (IPCC AR6 WGII SPM; UNFCCC policy briefs). Yet, women remain underrepresented in environmental decision-making, from local councils to national planning (UN Women/UN factsheets). It is crucial to differentiate the types of representation women hold within these bodies. Whether women hold decision-making roles, advisory positions, or quota seats significantly affects their influence. Acknowledging and expanding their roles from token participation to effective involvement can substantially improve inclusivity and efficacy in environmental governance. In the Philippines, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act (...

  Social funds and relief for climate change Social Funds, Relief, and the Politics of Disaster Why this chapter matters When a cyclone hits or monsoon floods surge , the need for immediate aid is critical. Picture a mother, clutching her child, waiting on a flooded rooftop for tarps, safe water, and cash for food or transport. Her resilience demonstrates why speed and integrity in disaster relief are crucial. Governments and aid agencies must act quickly. However, speed without safeguards can lead to favoritism, kickbacks, and 'ghost' beneficiaries. Help gets diverted, trust erodes, and next time, fewer heed the siren's call (IFRC, 2025). Relief leakage and procurement abuse are not victimless. They lead to hunger, untreated illness, polluted wells, and unsafe shelter. Audits and watchdog research from the Philippines and Bangladesh, along with open contracting reforms, demonstrate both the failures of relief and how social funds and rapid contracting can maintain integri...

  Turning public data into public power Practical guide: turning public data into public power This section serves as a guide for citizens, journalists, and civil society organizations to independently verify, analyze, and advocate for greater transparency in climate and environmental projects. Treat each step as part of an iterative learning loop—ask, test, refine, and repeat. By viewing these practical actions as a continuous process—from setting baselines to publishing replication files—you can transform open data into meaningful oversight and accountability, echoing the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) principles discussed earlier. Step 1 — Pin down the baseline (don’t move the goalposts). Before accepting “impact,” ask: Impact against what? For floods : historic water-level or depth maps per neighborhood; baseline water-logging days. For nature-based projects: initial canopy cover and species-site plan per plot; survival targets at 12 & 36 months. Document data ...