The number of natural disaster events, as well as their associated losses, have been increasing in Europe, driven by adverse weather events brought about by climate change. Such events can have a profound impact on both the public and private sector, especially for the most vulnerable.

Building resilience includes physical, social, financial, human, and natural resilience components, which can complement each other and support the mitigation of these disaster impacts. These components can take the form of structural measures (e.g. physical constructions, such as dams against flooding, or building earthquake resistant houses) as well as non-structural measures (e.g. early warning systems or risk awareness education).

The EU has special tools and mechanisms to enhance resilience and respond to natural disasters, including the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), the Emergency Aid Reserve (EAR), the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF), and Cohesion Policy.

Natural disasters have struck in all parts of the EU in recent years. Some have been more extreme than ever before and affected locations that have not experienced this type of threat previously.

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Wildfire

Wildfire is one of the major hazards threatening European forests and other ecosystems, that mostly affects the Mediterranean region but is a cause of concern also in other parts of Europe.

Animal and plant diseases

Animal and plant diseases can pose serious risks to European societies, including serious infectious disease outbreaks, food security risks and economic losses.

Flooding

Flooding is a natural hazard that may worsened by human impacts like changed land use and climate change.

Droughts

Droughts are a recurrent feature of Europe’s climate, with severe consequences for people and for most economic sectors, including agriculture.

Epidemics and pandemics

Epidemics and pandemics pose a severe threat in Europe and throughout the world, as COVID-19 has demonstrated. Other human-health related risks include the re-emergence of known diseases, vector-borne diseases, and anti-microbial resistance.

Extreme weather

Extreme weather events in Europe are occurring more regularly and becoming more severe, due to climate change.

Geophysical risks

Geophysical disasters (earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions) have devastating impact on people, the environment and economies.

Natural disaster risks