Session US7

US7 | Evidence-based policymaking in an era of increasing climate hazards and risks.

Evidence-based policymaking in an era of increasing climate hazards and risks.

Convener: Megan O'DonnellECSECS | Co-conveners: Simon ClarkECSECS, Chloe Hill

Mon, 04 May, 14:00–15:45 (CEST)

Room E1

Climate change is reshaping the landscape of risk and hazards across Europe. Natural hazards (such as wildfires, flooding, droughts, heatwaves, etc) are increasingly occurring together or in quick succession, with one event exacerbating the impacts of, and reducing the resilience of communities and environments to another. In some cases, certain hazards can even trigger the next event at a pace or frequency that outstrips our ability to respond and react to the first. These “multi-hazards” may also compound with other geopolitical or social crises, making them overwhelming for emergency services and governments. The mitigations and protections in place across nation states from civil protection architecture, to monitoring, analysis and warning systems, must evolve to inform adaptation strategies and protect communities.

In this new era of climate hazards and risks, the EU has launched the Preparedness Union Strategy, which aims to prepare Europe by bolstering foresight and anticipation capabilities, promoting population preparedness, and among these building a first EU-wide climate adaptation plan.

This Union Symposia will explore how Europe can ensure the use of the best possible scientific evidence into the development of integrated, multi-level strategies for coping with multi-hazard and climate enhanced risks. It will consider the challenges faced when incorporating scientific evidence into both developing and committed policies and evaluate the importance of community engagement and acceptance in the process. This session will illustrate how for natural hazards, siloed research prevents preparedness and reduces resilience.

The session will rely on an interactive format where scientists and decision-makers jointly workshop the impacts of and solutions for integrating disciplines, regions, approaches, and techniques to effectively promote resilient and effective adaptation frameworks. Members of the EGU Climate Hazard and Risk Task Force will share their perspectives from responding to a call for evidence related to the development of the European Climate Adaptation Plan by the European Commission.

The oral presentations are given in a hybrid format supported by a Zoom meeting featuring on-site and virtual presentations. The button to access the Zoom meeting appears just before the time block starts.