Crisis management topic 1: potential of current and new measures and technologies to respond to extreme weather and climate events

Specific challenge:

Extreme weather and climate events, interacting with exposed and vulnerable human and natural systems, can lead to disasters. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), some types of extreme events (e.g. flash floods and related landslides, storm surges, heatwaves, fires, including vegetation fires) have increased in frequency or magnitude, and in the meantime populations and assets at risk have also increased, leading to greater disaster risks. In order to better forecastand manage the immediate consequences of weather- and climate-related disasters, in particular regarding emergency responses, improved measures and technologies are needed.

Scope:

Proposals should focus on the potential of current and new measures (including local measures) and technologies to enhance the response capacity to extreme weather and climate events  affecting the security of people and assets. Proposals should focus on emergency management operations and cover the whole crisis management, linking awareness and early warning to effective responses within society and coordination with first responders, including the use of adapted cyber technologies to gain time and improve coordination in emergency situations. Proposals should also explore the links and eventual adjustments of the warning and response systems facing the observed or anticipated changes in frequency and intensity of extreme climate events.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between €5m and €12m would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

In line with the EU's strategy for international cooperation in research and innovation[1] international cooperation is encouraged, and in particular with international research partners involved in ongoing discussions and workshops, and US homeland security research entities. Funding for third countries is however still subject to the  evaluations.

Expected impact:

- more effective and faster emergency responses to extreme weather and climate events; Faster analysis of risks and anticipation;

- publicly available online now- and fore-casting systems for disasters triggered by (extreme) weather conditions;

- improved coordination of emergency reactions in the field, including the use of adapted cyber technologies;

- improved capacity to provide adequate emergency responses to extreme weather and climate events;

- shorter reaction time and higher efficiency of reactions;

- enhancement of citizen's protection and saving lives. The action is expected to proactively target the needs and requirements of users, such as national law enforcement agencies, climate and weather services, civil protection units and public and private operators of critical infrastructures and networks.

Type of action: Innovation Actions

[1] COM(2012)497