Kubilius and Lahbib strengthen global disaster management through space-based technologies

Brussels – “From space to the ground: strengthening communities’ resilience to natural hazards through space technologies”: this is the First interregional dialogue launched today (15 October) by the European Commission to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. The initiative aims to “further strengthen international cooperation to anticipate, prepare for and respond to disasters, using space technologies.” The event was attended by the Commissioner for Crisis Preparedness and Management, Hadja Lahbib, the European Commissioner for Defence, Andrius Kubilius, and other representatives from organisations involved in risk and disaster management in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa.

The dialogue identified opportunities for closer collaboration with partners from around the world, working in areas ranging from the improvement of early warning systems to the sharing of satellite data. The aim is to make more effective use of space technologies at every level, with a view to protecting lives and livelihoods, paying particular attention to the most vulnerable communities. The outcome of the discussions has been set out in a document, the “Compass for Space and Disaster Risk Management”, which emphasises the need to transform data into “practically usable” information.