C 322/2
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
26.8.2022
COUNCIL Council conclusions on civil protection work in view of climate change (2022/C 322/02)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Considering the following:
I.
INTRODUCTION
1.
RECALLING that the Sustainable Development Goals set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 aim to reduce climate disaster risks;
2.
HAVING REGARD TO Article 196 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which encourages cooperation between Member States to address disasters, and Article 222 TFEU, under which the Union and its Member States act in a spirit of solidarity if a Member State is the victim of a disaster;
3.
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the priority the Union has expressly given to the green transition and the protection of biodiversity under the Green Deal, the objective of climate neutrality referred to in Regulation (EU) 2021/1119, as well as the project, supported by the Recovery Package, of a greener, more resilient Europe that is better equipped to face current and future challenges, including in its external action;
4.
STRESSING that the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), established in 2001 and strengthened in particular in 2013, 2019 and 2021, plays an increasing role in Europe’s response to natural and man-made disasters, that recent amendment of the UCPM sets disaster resilience goals based on current and forward-looking scenarios, and that the UCPM contributes towards meeting the Union’s overall financing targets for climate and biodiversity;
5.
RECALLING the Council Conclusions of 4 June 2009 on civil protection awareness raising, of 30 November 2009 on a Community framework on disaster prevention within the EU and of 3 October 2011 on the role of voluntary activities in social policy, which emphasise that voluntary activities benefit volunteers, communities and society as a whole; the creation of the European Solidarity Corps in 2018; the importance of civil society and citizens to enhance safety and resilience; and the Union commitments for the European Year of Youth 2022;
6.
RECALLING the Council Conclusions of 3 June 2021 on forging a climate-resilient Europe – the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change and of 23 November 2021 on enhancing preparedness, response capability and resilience to future crises;
7.
NOTING that the effects of climate change are evident and that extreme events related to climate change are becoming more frequent, intense and persistent, thus increasing the risk of human, material and natural losses and underlining the need for Member States to take action in this area;
8.
ACKNOWLEDGING scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks, as well as adaptation and mitigation options provided by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change;