Europe and the rest of the world in general are highly and increasingly exposed to disaster risks. For example, in 2018, Europe experienced extreme heat waves and in Sweden and Greece this contributed to the occurrence of devastating fires, and in Greece with a high number of casualties. Over and over again, natural and man-made disasters adversely affect the lives of European citizens’, the economy and the environment.

On 21-23 November 2018, about 800 representatives of European countries, stakeholder groups and partners will gather in Rome (Italy) for the European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction at the invitation of the Italian Government. The United Nations Bureau for Disaster Reduction, the European Union and the Council of Europe’s European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement make up the Secretariat to the Forum.

High-level government representatives, parliamentarians, NGOs, academics, representatives of the private sector, media and civil society, will work together to accelerate the implementation of the UN Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in coherence with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The EUR-OPA Executive Secretary, Gianluca Silvestrini, will participate in the Forum to contribute to the sessions’ debates and the Closing Ceremony. Several EUR-OPA Permanent Correspondents and Directors of Specialised Centres will also attend the Forum to share their knowledge, experience and good practices.