Willy Wint (ERGO), representing E4Warning, attended the EuroGEO workshop held in Bolzano on the 2nd and 3rd of October. E4Warning was featured in a session that delved into pressing issues related to climate-induced disasters and health challenges. This session, titled “Addressing climate-induced disasters and health challenges: the contribution of EuroGEO and GEO-CRADLE initiatives and the way forward”, highlighted the vital role of Earth Observations in tackling environmental and health-related adversities.
The workshop session, chaired by Haris Kontoes (NOA/BEYOND), set out with clear objectives: to showcase the successful integration of Earth Observation data into services tailored for mitigating climate-triggered disasters and health concerns. Stories of success from EuroGEO initiatives, including e-shape and the valuable contributions from the Disasters and Health Action Groups, were shared, emphasizing the scientific and service advancements made by these groups.
In a show of collective progress and strategic foresight, the session also outlined concrete roadmaps aimed at ensuring the sustainability of these actions and services. It highlighted the importance of promoting open access to Earth Observation data and science, alongside showcasing sustainable business models that utilize this data for the benefit of diverse stakeholders.
The commitment to designing future joint actions, like policy papers, special journal editions, and various workshops and webinars, stood out as a testament to the collaborative spirit driving these initiatives forward. This collaborative effort, supported by the EuroGEO Secretariat and relevant CSAs such as GEO-CRADLE and COERNICUS FPCUP, aims to forge synergies that will have a long-lasting impact on the global strategy post-2025 for addressing climate-related disasters and health crises.
Notable presentations from the session included:
- FRIEND’s innovative approach to flood risk and impact assessment by Marco Folegani (MEEO)
- MountaiNow‘s live mapping of mountain hazards, presented by Alexia Massacand
- SOL’s real-time flood forecast and early-warning system by Marco Mancini (PoliMi/MMI)
- EYWA’s Early Warning System for Mosquito-Borne Diseases from Haris Kontoes (NOA/BEYOND)
- E4Warning’s initiative on eco-epidemiological intelligence, presented by Willy Wint (ERGO)
- OneAquaHealth by Maria Feio (University of Coimbra) focusing on the potential of Earth Observations in urban aquatic ecosystems
- GEO-CRADLE‘s capacity building efforts across various regions, discussed by Alexia Tsouni (NOA/BEYOND)
- The Copernicus Health Hub, which connects environmental data with the health community, by Julie Letertre (ECMWF)
The session culminated in a round table discussion, moderated by Haris Kontoes, which allowed for an engaging exchange of ideas and experiences among the speakers.