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Forest fires pose a significant disaster risk to the whole of Europe as well as to other parts of the world. They damage ecosystems, destroy woodlands and devastate the lives of many of our citizens. Over the past couple of years, fires have ravaged hundreds of forests and ruined thousands of protected sites across the length and breadth of the European Union. But amid worrying forecasts, 2021 may prove to be the most devastating yet.

Against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, an equally grave threat to the lives of millions of people is mounting — famine.

Today, the world celebrates International Earth Day under the theme Restore our Earth. Five years ago, on this very same day, the Paris Agreement was officially open for signature and it entered into force on 4 November 2016. Still five years ago, nobody could have predicted the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic or imagined the human costs of this virus.

On 15th March, the world marked the 10th anniversary of the civil war in Syria. A sad milestone for a conflict that has brought about immeasurable suffering, hardship and grief for millions of Syrian civilians. Like many people, I have closely followed its appalling developments and the horrors that the Syrian people have gone through over the past decade. In spite of the time that has passed, they continue to endure unimaginable levels of suffering and incredible pain on several fronts.

Given the intensity of the conflict and the worrying level of humanitarian needs, I have just recently visited Afghanistan – as the first European Commissioner responsible for humanitarian aid in almost twenty years.