European Commission's communication on integrated wildfire risk management

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<p>The European Commission's 2026 communication on integrated wildfire risk management outlines a holistic strategy to address the escalating threat of wildfires, which saw over 1 million hectares burned in the EU in 2025. The strategy shifts from traditional firefighting toward an "integrated" approach covering the entire disaster cycle: prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.The communication identifies three main factors driving the surge in extreme "megafires": climate change (extreme heat and droughts), land management changes (abandoned rural areas leading to fuel build-up), and human behavior (responsible for up to 96% of ignitions through negligence or arson).</p>

Communication from the Commission on Integrated Wildfire Risk Management

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

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European Commission's communication on integrated wildfire risk management

Policy instrument

Risk

Impacted group

Just transition

Economic sector

Adaptation/resilience

Finance