The European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, called, on Thursday 9 September, for massive investment in climate-related disaster prevention and civil protection resources in the EU.
He was speaking in front of the MEPs of the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment during an exchange on the disasters - floods, major fires - that have occurred this summer and on the role and future needs of the future Civil Protection Mechanism.
“The IPCC report is alarming, but let us not despair. To be stronger and more resilient in the future, let’s roll up our sleeves”, said the Commissioner.
This summer, 16 Member States provided essential assistance to the most affected countries through the Civil Protection Mechanism, which coordinated the deployment of 18 firefighting planes, 3 helicopters, 1,300 personnel from 14 countries - the largest mobilisation of firefighters to date - to fight the fires in southern European countries.
“The trend is clear. Floods, forest fires and catastrophic weather conditions are on the increase. This has a cost. It reminds us of the urgent need to increase our prevention capabilities, to be more prepared, even more effective.”
He said he is convinced that the ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package will help strengthen mitigation efforts, but more adaptation measures are needed, more measures that take into account climate risks.
“Protecting our ecosystems, our biodiversity, is our best insurance policy against future risks”, he said.
According to him, environmental protection, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction must go hand in hand. Further investment in civil protection capacity is also required to anticipate climate-related threats and potential impacts on vulnerable landscapes.
The Commissioner thanked MEPs for their contribution to the recent reform of the Civil Protection Mechanism, which has made it more flexible and responsive.
The enhanced mechanism includes disaster resilience targets with disaster scenarios to better invest in the long term to increase the EU’s capacity to prevent, but also prepare for, the consequences of climate-related disasters.
“If summer disasters are to become the norm, Member States will not be able to act alone”, the Commissioner stressed. He called for “massive investments now, in prevention capacities, to ensure that they are there when disasters happen”.
Mr Lenarčič said that for the 2022 budget, the Commission wants to make massive investments in certain areas for the purchase of aerial firefighting capabilities and training exercises.
It is therefore “essential to secure sufficient funds for the most effective long-term financing”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)