Natural Hazards & Climate Change
PANEL OF EXPERTS
01 Mission
02 Experts
03 Activity
04 EU Policy
Mission
Geoscience for resilience: harnessing geological expertise to reduce disaster risk and face climate challenges for a safer, fairer future.
The Panel of Experts on Natural Hazards and Climate Change has been established in March 2003, in relation to EC initiatives on Civil Protection, DG Environment. The Panel has as primary purposes to promote the importance of geology as a defence mechanism by:
– Supporting EFG on its initiatives as stated in the Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022.
– Communicating the importance of the geological expertise on Disaster Risk Reduction.
– Disseminating geological knowledge to increase resilience against natural disasters and climate change.
– Understanding and offering expertise on issues related to climate change and fragility.
– Offering ad-hoc advice services when requested by the EFG or the European Commission.
– Participating in public dialogue and promoting geoscience as a scientific tool for society’s benefit at every political level.
– The ultimate mission is to make available geological knowledge in the decision-making process to increase the quality of life and reduce the poverty as these are defined on the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
Experts
Marko Komac
Coordinator of Natural Hazards
Activities
From climate resilience to disaster prevention, EFG’s experts shape policies that protect people and the planet—turning geology into action for a safer Europe.
February 2026
- Response to Public Consultation on the European Climate Resilience and Risk Management Framework by the European Commission
February 2026
- Position Paper – Europe Needs a Landslide Directive: A Lesson from Niscemi
November 2024
- Launch of EFG Policy Manifesto: Geology’s Vital Contribution to European Competitiveness
October 2024
- EFG call for policy makers to invest in environmental disaster prevention
Policies followed by the panel:
– Adoption of the Paris Agreement
– Flood Risk Management: EFG is a member of the European Commission Working Group F on Flood (WG F) (Pavlos Tyrologou)
– Civil Protection Policy: Prevention, preparedness, and Disaster Risk Reduction
– DG Research: Environmental Research Natural Hazards
– Integrated Research on Disaster Risk
– The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Making cities resilient
Science for Disaster Risk Management 2020 Acting Today, Protecting Tomorrow
EFG actively contributed to this report, officially launched by the EU’s Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre on 23 March 2021, through its Panel of Experts on Natural Hazards and Climate Change.
The report is a collaborative effort by more than 300 experts on disaster risk, coming from different sectors and disciplines, that worked for more than 2 years together to present the consequences of disasters on various assets at risk (population, economic sectors, critical infrastructures, ecosystem services and cultural heritage). Studying the impacts helps in managing risk after a disaster, guiding the response and facilitating recovery, and preparing measures to prevent, mitigate and prepare for future events, by supporting risk prediction and the planning of measures to manage risk.
EFG contributed in particular to chapter 2.2 on Risk Management Planning.
Read the full report at the following link.
Publications
Interview with coordinator Pavlos Tyrologou
Press release “Geoscience, a tool for civil protection against floods”, December 2017
The panel responded positively to an invitation by the Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre for the preparation of the “Science for DRM Report 2020” in November 2017. The panel reviewed the proposed table of contents and offered additional ideas to re-emphasise what has already been suggested to “Science for DRM report 2017”. Both the EFG and the Panel of Experts on Natural Hazards and Climate Change welcome transparent and open initiatives to engage the multidisciplinary scientific communities and society to address the environmental impacts caused by climate change.
Press release “Geoscience, a tool for civil protection against earthquakes”, September 2016
Press release and position paper “Geoscience, a tool for civil protection against floods”, June 2016
Advisory Document “Disaster Risk Reduction from natural hazards”, 22 November 2015
Press release “Geoscience as tool on civil protection against natural hazards”, 1 June 2015
EFG Presentation in the WG F meeting 16/10/2012
EFG Pressrelease “Workshop on Managing Natural Hazards”, 10 May 2012.
Natural Hazards and the European Commission – February meetings 2008
Final resolution international geohazards conference: European Federation of Geologists and “Consiglio Nazionale dei Geologi d’Italia” (Italian National Council of Geologists), May 2007
Summary report about the EXCIMAP meeting, December 2006
EFG and EuroGeoSurvey Amendments to the European legislation on Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the assessment and management of floods (Draft), April 2006
Geoscientific recommendations regarding natural hazards to be considered in the Seventh Framework Programme 2007 – 2013, March 2006
Geo-scientific recommendations for the Floods Directive, September 2005
Advice Document to the European Commission on Reducing the risk from natural hazards, March 2005
Geo-scientific Manifesto on Civil Protection against Natural Hazards, presented in the consultation meeting, organized by the European Commission, 8th February 2005, Brussels.
EFG Advice Document to the European Commission on Civil Protection and Natural Hazards,March 2003.
The group has been established in March 2003, in relation to EC initiatives on Civil Protection, DG Environment, and has since then provided many contributions to the EC.
Monitoring the EU policy
EU institutions involved:
Commission:
– DG Environment
– Civil Protection
– DG Research
– Natural Hazards
– DG Development
– Environment
– Disaster Risk Reduction
– DG Clima
Parliament:
Relevant EU documents:
– In the European environment — state and outlook 2015 — synthesis report, European Environmental Agency, 2015. Chapter 3.9, page 75: The impacts of climate change on ecosystems and society call for adaptation measures
– Disaster Risk Management Plant: Proposal to renew EU civil protection legislation. Stakeholder information note June 2011
– Council conclusions on Integrated Flood Management within the European Union 3085th JUSTICE and HOME AFFAIRS Council meeting Brussels, 12 May 2011
– Council conclusions on Further Developing Risk Assessment for Disaster Management within the European Union, 12 April 2011
– COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER Risk Assessment and Mapping Guidelines for Disaster Management, 21 December 2010
– Support Study for the Implementation Plan of the EU Strategy for Supporting Disaster Risk Reduction in developing Countries, June 2010 A “holistic approach” to disaster prevention. Adequate funding, legislation on forestry protection, fire prevention and water scarcity, plus a balanced agriculture policy, are all needed to combat natural and man-made disasters. The resolution also lists prevention measures that should receive priority support from the EU. A Community approach on the prevention of natural and man-made disasters, February 2010
– Council Conclusions on an EU Strategy for Supporting Disaster Risk Reduction in Developing Countries May 2009 EU strategy for disaster risk reduction in developing countries February 2009-
– EU initiatives on disaster prevention. Over these last few years, Europe’s forest fires, floods and droughts have become fiercer and more intense. This has a devastating affect on people’s lives, their livelihood and the environment. In 2008 the European Commission plans to publish a Communication on an integrated approach to disaster prevention.
– A community approach on the prevention of natural and man-made disasters policy from DG Environment, February 2009
– 16 February 2011: Commission Staff Working Paper. Implementation Plan of the EU Strategy for supporting disaster risk reduction in developping countries – SEC(2011) 215 final
– 21 December 2010: Commission Staff Working Paper. Risk Assessment and Mapping Guidelines for Disaster Management – SEC(2010) 1626 final
– November 2007: EXCIMAP. Handbook on good pracitices for flood mapping in Europe.
– Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks -5 March 2008: Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on Reinforcing the Union’s Disaster Response Capacity – COM(2008) 130 final
– European Parliament resolution of 14 November 2007 on the regional impact of earthquakes
– Communication from European Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of Regions, “Reinforcing the Civil Protection Capacity of the European Union”, March 2004.
Events
Other publications we invite you to consult
International institutions:
- UNISDR International Strategy for Disaster Reduction,
- Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, PreventionWeb
- UNISDR, Europa
