EU Day for the Victims of the Global Climate Crisis

The European Commission, Parliament, and Council have designated 15 July as the EU Day for the Victims of the Global Climate Crisis.

The day honours those lost to and affected by the climate crisis and serves as a call to action. We must act now to minimise the impact of climate change wherever we can and build resilience to protect what is most precious to us – our lives and our health.

Communication toolkit

This toolkit is intended for anyone who wishes to take part in raising awareness and inspiring action around the day. The information and ideas can be used to plan communication activities, commemorative events or other initiatives adapted to the national, regional or local context and appropriate for the audience and stakeholders involved. 

Commemoration event in Brussels

Almost three years have passed since catastrophic floods struck Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands in July 2021. That extreme, unseasonal weather event tragically claimed 220 lives in the region and had a lasting impact on the local economy and communities.

A ceremony open to the public will be held in Brussels on 15 July 2024. The ceremony will be attended by:

• Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management
• Zakia Khattabi, Belgian Minister of Climate, Environment, Sustainable Development and the Green Deal
• Annelies Verlinden, Belgian Minister of the Interior, Institutional Reform and Democratic Renewal
• Christos Doulkeridis, Mayor of Ixelles, Belgium
• David Van Reybrouck, Belgian cultural historian and writer
• Benjamin Van Bunderen Robberechts, climate activist and founder of Climate Justice for Rosa 

The event will feature a live musical performance of arrangements by David Van Reybrouck and Jef Neve, written in honour of the victims of the 2021 Belgian floods and performed by Hanne Roos and Marlon Dek.

The ceremony will take place on 15 July 2024 at 18:00-18:45 at Rosa's tree at the intersection of Rue de l'Arbre Bénit, Rue du Prince Albert, and Chaussée d'Ixelles, in Ixelles, Belgium.