Why we can't prevent wildfires (yet)
Wildfire season is back, and the EU looks ready to react, but not to prevent it. Over the past few weeks, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Albania all received help through the rescEU emergency fleet and emergency services under the Civil Protection Mechanism. The mechanism calls on EU member states to combat wildfires in other countries.
Yet, the EU response is 'just' that: a response, and not a prevention of future wildfires. Teresa Ribera, candidate to become the new EU Climate Commissioner, calls for a special EU fund for affected regions in Southern Europe to implement preventive measures.
The exact steps to prevent or curb wildfires vary by affected areas and have to be taken on regional and local levels, but EU-wide legislation helps to set the targets. For example, the Nature Restoration Law, finally in action since June after an ever-lasting fight for its life, obliges member states to restore 90% of habitats at risk by 2050.
The necessity for preventive measures against natural or man-made disasters is not news to EU policymakers. Under the Climate Adaptation Plan, the Commission wants to ”support member states notably on preparedness” but remains vague on how to achieve this goal. Besides the Nature Restoration Law, the Commission's proposal for a Europe-wide forest monitoring database will undoubtedly help to track droughts and fires early on.
Beyond early detection and prevention, Ribera argued that all EU legislation on food security, fishing, nature conservation and more cannot be implemented or planned without considering Europe's annual droughts and wildfires.
The EU, meanwhile, purchased 12 new rescue planes and allocated €600 million to grow its fleet over the next few years. With additional investment, the Civil Protection Mechanism can become a truly pan-European emergency response, or EU solidarity in action.