The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has published a new leaflet outlining the action that local and regional authorities can take both to prepare and respond to crisis situations.

The publication draws from previous work, summarising the main points of the report on “Local and Regional Responses to Natural Disasters and Climate Hazards” and the related Resolution 500 (2024) and Recommendation 510 (2024) adopted by the Congress in March 2024. It comes at a time where many people across Europe are reflecting on the devastation natural disasters and other events can cause. Two years ago, on 6 February 2023, one of the deadliest earthquakes of the century hit southern and central Türkiye and north-western Syria, triggering a wave of international solidarity, but also requiring major rebuilding efforts by Turkish authorities at all levels.  In recent days, the series of tremors that have hit Santorini, in Greece, has provided a further reminder of the danger that such events pose.

The new Congress leaflet outlines that any crisis response requires a comprehensive approach, starting with subnational authorities that are on the front line in dealing with complex and urgent situations.  This response should combine short-term emergency interventions with long-term planning aimed at preventing the most serious consequences of natural disasters, and building on local, regional, national and international partnerships to make that happen. The Congress will continue to develop tools for crisis response and strengthening local and regional governments’ resilience.