Adapting Civil Protection to a Changing Climate
The increasing frequency and scale of climate-exacerbated hazards require civil protection systems to adapt. Mitigation measures initiated following recent disasters in neighboring countries provide valuable lessons for Switzerland, argue Christine Eriksen, Andrin Hauri, David Nicolai Kollmann in this CSS Policy Perspective.
A firetruck amid a burned forest in Hostens in the Gironde region, France, on September 1, 2022. Stephane Mahe / Reuters
Key Points
- Mitigation measures can stem the impact of climate change and increase societal coping capacity. This includes civil protection entities’ ability to prepare, adapt, and respond.
- Recent disasters in Germany, Austria, and France have resulted in extensive changes to civil protection systems.
- Key lessons include the value of international cooperation, mandatory training and specialized equipment, and closer integration of municipal, cantonal, and federal crisis management.