Policy Briefing: “Europe Must Learn to Live with Fire”

January 22, 2026 | Nicosia, Cyprus

The European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC) and the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters, and Arts co-organized a high-level policy briefing and public discussion to present the findings of the landmark EASAC report, “Changing Wildfires in Europe.”

The event brought together scientists, policymakers, and environmental experts to discuss a paradigm shift in how the Mediterranean handles the escalating threat of wildfires.

Key Insights & Regional Impact:

• A Call for Proactive Management: The briefing emphasized moving beyond reactive fire suppression toward risk-based land management. The central message was clear: Europe must transition from fighting fires to building resilience and fire adaptation.
• Cyprus on the Front Line: The report highlights that the Mediterranean faces a rapid rise in fire frequency and intensity. Alarmingly, it notes that Europe is projected to lose an area equivalent to the entire landmass of Cyprus every year to wildfires.
• Regional Collaboration via EMME-CCI: President of The Cyprus Institute, Prof. Stavros Malas, emphasized that wildfires are a top priority for the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Climate Change Initiative (EMME-CCI). Given that wildfires do not respect national borders, regional scientific cooperation is the only viable path forward.
• The European Wildfire Hub: Discussions focused on the potential of a proposed European Wildfire Hub. This center would serve as a focal point for shared monitoring, advanced predictive modeling, and collaborative scenario development across the continent and the EMME region.

Official Links:

• EASAC Official News: Cyprus Academy Events “Changing Wildfires” Report
• Cyprus Institute Event Page: Public Lecture and Panel Discussion: Policy Options for Prevention

Throughout November 2025, The Cyprus Institute (CyI) and its partners under the EMME-CCI framework reached several major milestones in marine environment research and regional climate policy.

International Workshop: “Threats to the Mediterranean Marine Ecosystems”

November 19–21, 2025 | Nicosia, Cyprus Hosted at The Cyprus Institute and organized by the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts, this high-level scientific workshop served as a pivotal moment for the EMME-CCI.

• Global Collaboration: Funded by the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), the event united leading experts from Europe, Africa, and the Eastern Mediterranean.
• Focus: Participants addressed the accelerating threats to marine biodiversity and ecosystem health caused by a rapidly warming Mediterranean basin.
• Leadership: The initiative was supported by the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC) and the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC).

Public Lecture & Task Force Report Launch

November 19, 2025 The month’s activities included a hybrid public event titled “Climate Change and the Marine Environment: Global and Regional Challenges.”

• Keynote Speaker: Dr. Aristomenis P. Karageorgis, Director and President of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), delivered a comprehensive overview of the stressors facing the Mediterranean, from acidification to invasive species.
• Major Publication: The event coincided with the official release of the Report of the Task Force on Marine Environment & Resources.
  • As a core scientific component of the EMME-CCI, this report provides the most up-to-date assessment of regional marine vulnerabilities and offers a roadmap for science-based policy interventions.

The Cyprus Institute at the 8th Cairo Water Week (CWW)

October 12–16, 2025 | Cairo, Egypt

The Cyprus Institute (CyI) maintained a prominent presence at the 8th Cairo Water Week, a premier regional forum dedicated to water and climate resilience. Representing the Secretariat of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Climate Change Initiative (EMME-CCI), the CyI delegation played a key role in bridging the gap between scientific research and regional policy.

Key Highlights:

• Technical Session Leadership: On October 13, CyI co-organized a session titled “The EMME-CCI: Plans and Actions during the Cyprus Presidency of the EU.” Moderated by Prof. Fadi Comair, the session explored cross-border water and energy projects and the strategic role Cyprus will play during its 2026 EU Council Presidency.
• High-Level Diplomacy: The delegation met with Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation to strengthen bilateral collaboration on water management and climate adaptation strategies.
• Regional Collaboration: Following the relaunch of the EMME-CCI by President Nikos Christodoulides, CyI actively engaged with international organizations and academic leaders to foster a Regional Scientific Alliance to combat the urgent climate challenges facing the EMME region.