Appendix 2 – Comments of the Committee
of Permanent Correspondents of the European and Mediterranean Major
Hazards Agreement (EUR-OPA) on Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1823 (2008)
After careful examination of Parliamentary
Assembly Recommendation
1823 (2008) on “Global warming and ecological disasters” at its
meeting in Paris on 24 and 25 April 2008, the Committee of Permanent Correspondents
of the European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement (EUR-OPA):
1. Shares the concern of the Parliamentary
Assembly concerning the challenges that Europe will have to face
due to the expected changes in temperature and rainfall while noting
that climate change should be taken into consideration in the context
of global change which also includes changes in urbanisation, agriculture
and forestry or spatial planning that may increase the vulnerability
of populations.
2. Notes that present available knowledge predicts that climate
change will intensify climate threats and will most likely cause
more frequent disasters related to meteorological phenomena and
will certainly increase coastal and marine risks, as well as forest
fires, drought or heat waves.
3. Recalls that the European and Mediterranean Major Hazards
Agreement, jointly with its network of specialised centres, is already
working within its 25 member states on prevention and education
issues related to natural and technological risks (in such diverse
fields as forest fires, landslides or radiological risks) and starts
to consider the specific effects of climate change on risk exposure
for populations.
4. Notes that, while the reduction of greenhouse gases is a necessary
action to minimise the extent of global warming in the long term,
adaptation to climate change to reduce risks in the medium term
should receive appropriate attention by governments and the civil
society. A reinforced effort in preparedness of societies will be
essential to curb increasing risks, investing in risk-related sciences
(geosciences, meteorology, oceanography, ecology, etc.), in developing
early warning systems and more efficient response in cases of emergency.
5. Suggests that the Committee of Ministers and the governments
of member states increase their efforts in protection of people
from risk, by increasing resilience, promoting risk awareness through
education and reducing disaster risk, integrating global change
into their predictions and plans.
6. Suggests that the Council of Europe becomes more involved
in the action against climate change and prevention of its effects
and provides appropriate funding for the necessary programmes and
activities related to early warning, risk education and post disaster
assistance under the EUR-OPA Partial Agreement.
7. Suggests the Committee of Ministers encourages member states
which are not yet parties to the EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement
to consider joining this co-operation structure so as to reinforce
their action to combat the effects of climate changes.