The EU Day for the Victims of the Global Climate Crisis, established in 2023, serves as an annual occasion to honour those affected – both within Europe and globally – while promoting concrete measures to better manage climate risks and prevent and respond to climate-related disasters. In 2023, serves as an annual occasion to honour those affected – both within Europe and globally – while promoting concrete measures to better manage climate risks and prevent and respond to climate-related disasters.
This year, we will mark the fourth observance of the Day with a high-level panel discussion focused on strengthening resilience, protecting communities and advancing proactive strategies to address extreme weather events. The event will also feature contributions from the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera and Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra as well as a live musical performance by Aleksey Shadrin (cello). You will find below the full event programme.
- climate change
- Wednesday 15 July 2026, 16:00 - 18:30 (CEST)
- Belgium
- Live streaming available
Programme
- 15 Jul 2026, 15:30 - 16:00 (CEST)Registration and welcome
- 16:00 - 16:15 (CEST)Opening remarks
- Jan Dusík, Deputy Director-General, European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA)
- Video statement by Teresa Ribera, European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition
- 16:15 - 17:00 (CEST)Panel 1 - Preventing climate disasters: Risk assessment and awareness raising
- Saïd El Khadraoui - Brussels Representative and EU Institutional Relations Expert, European Environment Agency
- Nicolas Jeanmart - Head of Personal and General Insurance, Insurance Europe
- Francesca Racioppi - Head of Office, World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe
Moderator: Anna Dimitrijevics - Deputy Head of Unit for Preparedness and Adaptation, European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA)
- 17:00 - 17:05 (CEST)Interlude
- 17:05 - 17:50 (CEST)Panel 2 - Protecting and empowering people on the ground: Preparedness and resilience building
- Natalia Alonso Cano - Chief, United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia
- Jean-Luc Crucke – Belgian Federal Minister for Mobility, Climate and Ecological Transition
- Joao Silva – Policy Officer, Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO)
- Cornelia Weigand – Ahrweiler District Administrator, Germany
Moderator: Anna Dimitrijevics - Deputy Head of Unit for Preparedness and Adaptation, European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA)
- 17:50 - 18:00 (CEST)Concluding remarks followed by a moment of commemoration
- Video statement by Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth
- Minute of silence
- Live cello performance by Aleksey Shadrin
- 18:00 - 18:30 (CEST)Refreshments and snacks
Practical information
- When
- Wednesday 15 July 2026, 16:00 - 18:30 (CEST)
- Where
- BrusselsBelgium
- Languages
- English
Description
The event will be webcast for those unable to attend in-person. The webstreaming link will be shared approximately an hour prior to the event.