In order to better address the increasing frequency and intensity of natural and man-made disasters, the Council of the EU is supporting a more proactive approach by the EU to disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the framework of its external relations.
In conclusions adopted without debate on Monday 28 November, it stressed the importance of effective disaster risk reduction, early action and risk-informed developments.
The European Commission, the European External Action Service and Member States are being called upon to move in this direction instead of merely reacting to crises.
The EU Council stressed the importance of scientific data and assessments on climate change and its risks, implications and impacts, as well as the adaptation and mitigation options and protection proposed by the IPCC. Achieving these global programmes requires there to be improved access to earth observations, including space data and related infrastructure, taking into account the specific needs of developing countries.
It also highlights the complementary value of local and traditional knowledge and practices.
The EU Council recognises there are links between fragility, conflict and disasters and emphasises participatory and inclusive DRR processes and proactive action, in line with the integrated Humanitarian Aid/Development/Peace (‘triple nexus’) approach that forms a priority of the Czech Presidency of the EU Council (see EUROPE 12993/15) and the European Commission (see EUROPE 13002/15).
According to the EU Council, “the impacts of global shocks such as environmental degradation and climate change, armed conflicts, notably the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, and health threats, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, demonstrate the interconnected and systemic character of today’s risk as well as its potential to evolve into disasters with cascading effects across geographies and sectors, and hamper human development”.
See the EU Council conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/4bt (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)