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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

Together, one step ahead of climate disasters

Together, one step ahead of climate disasters
#TogetherOneStepAhead

Extreme weather events are becoming more common due to climate change. To protect our families, homes and countries from wildfires, storms and floods, we must work together to stay one step ahead.

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism brings together European firefighters, flood analysts, wildfire risk experts, civil protection officers and more. They work together to anticipate and prepare for disasters so they can respond quickly, alert local populations to the danger and secure the continual operation of civil protection authorities. 

WILDFIRES
  • Man on the left in pilot's uniform in front of a helicopter and man on the right standing in front of large screens with maps
    How Austria stepped in to help Slovenia put out wildfires

    Austrian pilot Josef Samonig used data from EU wildfire risk expert Jesús San-Miguel-Ayanz to help fight the fires in Slovenia in July 2022.

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  • Man on the left in pilot's uniform in front of a firefighting plane and man on the right working at a computer
    How Italian pilots flew to the rescue to stop wildfires in Germany

    Italian pilot Martino Franchini stopped wildfires from spreading in Germany’s Harz National Park with the help of satellite data from EU expert Jesús San-Miguel-Ayanz. 

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  • Two split photos with man on the left in pilot's uniform in front of a yellow firefighting plane, man on the right working in an office
    How Greece stepped up to help Portugal tackle the blaze

    Thanks to EU wildfire risk expert Jesús San-Miguel-Ayanz, Greek pilot Stefanos Karpetis was ready to respond quickly to wildfires in Portugal in 2022.

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  • Two split photos with man on the left in pilot's uniform in front of a yellow firefighting plane, man on the right working at a computer with maps on the screen
    How Croatia’s firefighters helped Slovenia extinguish the flames

    Croatian firefighter Igor Mindoljević used data provided by the European Forest Fire Information System when he tackled wildfires in Slovenia in 2022.

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FLOODING

How EU experts helped Pakistan recover after severe floods

When devastating floods hit Pakistan in 2022, Peter Salamon – coordinator of the EU’s Copernicus Emergency Management Service – used satellite data to help workers on the ground.

  • Man on the left in uniform holding a helmet and man on the right working at a computer with maps on the screen

    Finnish logistics expert Juuso Nummela used the information to ensure sanitation and medical aid arrived where it was needed most.

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  • Two split photos with man on the left in uniform, man on the right working at a computer

    Danish Civil Defence Major Erik Breum-Christensen used Salamon’s flood maps to find the safest spots to place water purification modules.

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TROPICAL STORMS

How EU experts stepped up to help Madagascar cope with tropical storms

Mirana R’Abel, an EU-funded disaster risk educator, taught school children the risks tropical storms bring and helped them to stay safe during the storms. Thanks to this, EU experts who responded to the crisis in 2022 could focus on helping others in need.

  • Two split photos with man on the left in uniform in front of equipment, woman on the right in a red Save the Children vest standing in front of children sitting on the floor

    Alain Biasci – a French Civil Security Officer – analysed the dangers and ensured medical and sanitation experts responding to the crisis could work safely.

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  • Two split photos with woman on the right in a suit in an office, woman on the left in a red Save the children vest in a classroom

    Erie Braakhekke – an expert from the Netherlands with a background in behavioural science – ensured her diverse team worked efficiently together.

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What is the EU doing to tackle climate-related emergencies?

Every year, we hear about unprecedented climate-related disasters – wildfires, floods, storms and heatwaves. When countries in Europe and beyond are overwhelmed by climate-related emergencies, they can request assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. 

That’s when the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) steps in. The ERCC is at the core of the EU’s disaster response. It acts as a coordination hub between all countries within the Mechanism (27 EU countries plus 10 participating states), the affected country, and civil protection and humanitarian experts. The ERCC operates 24/7 and ensures the rapid deployment of emergency support. 

In addition, the EU prepares for extreme weather events through satellite mapping and modelling, running training exercises, building a reserve of emergency resources, investing in disaster preparedness, and much more.

To ensure that we are better prepared for the uncertain future created by climate change, the European Commission has recently also adopted 5 disaster resilience goals. They aim to improve the capacity of the EU, its Member States and participating states in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to anticipate and withstand the effects of future major disasters and emergencies.

 

Together, one step ahead of climate disasters