15 July: EU Day for the Victims of the Global Climate Crisis: A Moment of Remembrance and Action

Today, 15 July, marks the European Union's official day of remembrance for the victims of the global climate crisis. This date was chosen to commemorate the devastating floods that struck Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg in July 2021, a stark reminder of Europe's increasing vulnerability to climate extremes.

The exceptional rainfall that led to the 2021 floods was an extreme event, the likes of which are closely monitored by scientific bodies such as the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (RMI). The institute's work in weather forecasting and climate science is vital for understanding the increasing frequency and intensity of such phenomena and for improving our national preparedness. As part of this work, an international team of researchers, working alongside RMI scientists, conducted an in-depth analysis of the relationship between the extreme rainfall of July 2021 and climate change (see notably Kreienkamp et al., 2021 and Tradowsky et al., 2023).

Established by the EU, this day serves a dual purpose: to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in climate-related disasters, both in Europe and worldwide, and to raise awareness of the concrete measures we can all take to mitigate climate risks. As the fastest-warming continent, Europe faces significant challenges. According to the European Environment Agency, climate-related events have caused vast economic losses across the EU in recent decades.

The initiative for this day of commemoration was driven by the powerful advocacy of Benjamin Van Bunderen Robberechts. After losing a friend in the 2021 floods, he wrote the theatrical monologue ‘For Rosa’ and founded the ‘Climate Justice for Rosa’ campaign, which was instrumental in establishing this official EU-wide observance.