At a time when wildfires are increasing due to climate change, prolonged drought, land-use change and the accumulation of flammable biomass, suppression on its own is no longer sufficient. This was the central message delivered on Thursday at an event presenting the findings of the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council report Changing Wildfires in Europe.
The message to policymakers was clear: Europe and Cyprus must learn to live with wildfires by prioritising prevention, resilient landscapes, early warning systems and public awareness, alongside effective emergency response.
Cyprus can play a leading regional role
Speaking on behalf of the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts, Professor Kostas N. Papanicolas stressed that significant scientific and technological capabilities exist but have not yet been fully utilised. He underlined that Cyprus has the potential to become a regional leader in wildfire-related science and technology.
The event was hosted at the Cyprus Institute in Nicosia, which is actively involved in climate and fire-risk modelling.
Three pillars for reducing wildfire risk
In his address, Professor Stavros Malas, President of the Cyprus Institute, identified three key actions needed to reduce wildfire risk:
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providing policymakers with robust scientific tools for accurate risk assessment,
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strengthening regional cooperation through science diplomacy, and
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adopting political decisions tailored to the specific conditions of each country.
Wildfires are changing in frequency and intensity
Presenting the report’s findings, Dr Thomas Elmqvist noted that wildfires are now changing in frequency, seasonality and intensity, increasingly affecting areas that were historically less exposed, including urban and peri-urban zones.
Dr Orsolya Valkó outlined eight key policy options for Europe, including integrated fire-risk reduction, nature-based solutions, ecosystem resilience, public education, landscape management, policy coherence across sectors, compact urban development and sustainable management of private land.
Professor Efthymios Lekkas, from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, emphasised that while natural hazards cannot be eliminated, vulnerability can be reduced by strengthening resilience. He described the Mediterranean, including Cyprus, as a climate “hot spot” where longer droughts, higher temperatures and extended heatwaves are creating a self-reinforcing cycle of extreme fires.
Why suppression alone is insufficient
According to the EASAC report, EU and national policies still focus primarily on fire suppression and emergency response. While necessary, this approach is no longer adequate in a warming climate with rising temperatures.
EASAC recommends:
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preventive land and landscape management based on risk assessment,
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integrating wildfire risk into spatial planning and climate adaptation,
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investing in prevention, fuel management and resilient landscapes,
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public awareness and education on wildfire risks.
For Cyprus, this means embedding wildfire risk across climate adaptation, agriculture, water management and civil protection policies, while strengthening regional cooperation to improve monitoring, modelling and cost-effectiveness.
New technologies and early warning systems
The report highlights the growing role of high-resolution satellite imagery, climate modelling and artificial intelligence. Satellite data can map biomass, vegetation health and landscape changes in near real time, while AI systems can analyse thermal signals, vegetation dryness and weather forecasts to identify high-risk zones and detect small ignition points before fires spread.
Such systems enable faster response, targeted evacuations and reduced damage, helping protect lives, ecosystems and livelihoods in Cyprus and the wider region.
A strategic opportunity for Cyprus
Beyond policy recommendations, Cyprus is well placed to assume a strategic regional role. Dr Elmqvist referred to the EU decision to establish a EU Wildfire Hub in Cyprus, describing it as a unique opportunity not only for suppression, but also for strengthening prevention, preparedness and coordination at European and regional level.
Evidence-based advice for policymakers
EASAC, which brings together national scientific academies across Europe, provides independent, evidence-based scientific advice to European policymakers on emerging risks linked to climate change, ecosystems and sustainability. As an active member, the Cyprus Academy contributes to this European dialogue, with the findings of Changing Wildfires in Europe being directly relevant to Cyprus’s climate conditions and future planning needs.