Wildfires are putting communities across Europe under growing pressure, and regional governments are on the frontline of the response.
From emergency support for firefighters and evacuees to long-term investment in prevention and forest resilience, regions are showing what subnational climate leadership looks like when the risk is already at the door. Two examples from the Under2 Coalition illustrate the range of that response: immediate crisis support in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, and systemic prevention in Catalonia, Spain.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
As wildfires hit Gironde and Les Landes, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Council moved to support both emergency crews and affected residents. The Region has opened accommodation for firefighters, provided practical support to emergency teams, and arranged transport to evacuate residents and tourists from affected areas. It is also coordinating with national and European partners to strengthen the wider response.
Alain Rousset, President of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Council, said: "These wildfires are devastating communities across Gironde and Les Landes. Our priority is to support the people affected and the firefighters and emergency teams working around the clock to keep them safe.
"These wildfires are a stark reminder of our region's vulnerability to the impacts of climate change – we must continue strengthening forest management, wildfire prevention and the resilience of the communities and ecosystems on the frontline of climate change."
Catalonia, Spain
Catalonia has put prevention at the centre of its wildfire strategy. Daily risk assessments allow authorities to deploy resources early, restrict high-risk activities, and respond faster once fires break out. Alongside this, the Government of Catalonia is investing in longer-term forest management to reduce wildfire risk and build resilience over time.
Salvador Illa, President of the Government of Catalonia, said: "The best way to fight wildfires is to prevent them. Protecting people, communities, and our natural heritage starts long before the first fire is lit."
"Every year, the forested area of Catalonia grows, already accounting for around 60% of the territory, and it is not being properly managed. We need to make a very significant effort here: we will put all the necessary resources in place to create mosaic landscapes that combine forest areas with crops and other types of land-based activities that can act as natural firebreaks. This is the main challenge we face: changing our forest policy, without forgetting to provide more resources and better technology. This is an environmental measure, because we do not want our forests to burn. In order to preserve them, we must radically change our forest policy."
Why this matters
Regional governments are often the level of government closest to the communities and services most exposed to wildfires. That proximity means they can act across the full arc of the crisis, i.e. prevention, emergency response, forest management and recovery, faster than higher levels of government typically can.
As wildfire risk grows across Europe, the response from Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Catalonia points to a broader truth: strong regional leadership isn't a supplement to national climate action, it's often what makes that action work on the ground.
Notes to editors
Media materials available. Subnational government spokespeople (on the ground) available for interviews.
For additional commentary and interview requests, please contact Vanessa Power, vpower@climategroup.org, or Tom Nice, tnice@climategroup.org.
About the Under2 Coalition
The Under2 Coalition is the largest global network of states and regions committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. Today, the coalition represents nearly 200 individual states, regions, provinces and subnational governments - a total of more than 270 actors, representing more than 50% of global GDP. Climate Group acts as the Under2 Coalition’s secretariat, supporting and advancing collective action.