MedEWSa Project Kick-Off Meeting
The Bridging Communication Meeting took place on November 9-10, 2023, in Athens, marking the official launch of the MedEWSa project. The event was led by Prof. Jürg Luterbacher, Director of the WMO Science and Innovation Department and the project coordinator for WMO.
Event Hosting and Coordination
Hosted by the Ministry of Digital Governance of Greece, the meeting highlighted the important role of the WMO Regional Office for Europe in guiding the project's progress and implementation.
Meeting Structure and Objectives
- The event was organized into four specialized groups focusing on:
- Disaster risk knowledge
- Hazard monitoring
- Warning dissemination
- Response capabilities
- These groups worked to align MedEWSa’s scientific and techno-economic developments with the goals of the WMO Early Warning for All (EW4All) Initiative.
Project Context and Goals
European countries vulnerable to natural hazards, such as extreme weather and climate events, require coordinated efforts for preparedness and response. The MedEWSa project (2023–2027) aims to create an integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) to improve resilience and reduce hazard impacts.
Technological Collaboration
The breakout sessions on the second day, known as the Twins sessions, focused on the importance of technology exchange and system interoperability among project partners.
The sessions recognized the crucial role of the WMO Regional Office for Europe in these collaborative efforts.
Author’s summary: The MedEWSa kick-off meeting set the foundation for developing a coordinated multi-hazard early warning system across Europe, emphasizing collaboration and technology integration to strengthen disaster preparedness.