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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations
News article25 May 2022Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)

European Commissioner Lenarčič underlines importance of disaster prevention and preparedness

Commissioner Lenarčič with the european flag at his right side
© European Union, 2022

At the 2022 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, today emphasised the EU’s global commitment to invest in prevention and preparedness actions in the face of more frequent and extreme disasters in the future.

Commissioner Lenarčič  attended  the session on ‘Scaling up Disaster Risk Reduction to Tackle the Climate Emergency’ that was chaired by Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Mami Mizutori and Halim Iskandar, Minister of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration, Indonesia and attended by Ministers.  

Commissioner Lenarčič said: “Disaster Risk Reduction binds together all our actions to realise the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. Through the European Green Deal, the EU is moving towards building a climate neutral future. Not only for Europe, but for the world. We will continue to support our partners to strengthen their climate resilience and green transition. As disasters increase in intensity and frequency, we can save more lives and preserve development gains by acting before disasters strike. And that is why prevention, preparedness and anticipatory action are key. And whenever a disaster does strike, the EU civil protection and humanitarian assistance will be there to help. 2030 is just around the corner and this year’s Global Platform marks a moment to truly accelerate our actions.’

The EU remains committed to meeting the targets under the Sendai Framework and continues to support countries worldwide in preventing and preparing for disasters.

Globally, the EU allocated in the year 2022 €76.5 million of its humanitarian funding to disaster preparedness initiatives.

Through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the EU enables its Member States to exchange information regularly on prevention, preparedness and emergency response related to disaster risks, run exercises together and pool rescue teams and equipment that are rapidly mobilised when a disaster overwhelms any other country in the world.