This panel invites experts to share their different perspectives regarding the impact of natural disasters in the European regions. Specifically, they will share their insights and discuss both risks and potential solutions regarding regional institutional capacity, multi-level governance, and policy reaction to mitigate the impact of natural disasters.
According to the EU Commission, 87 million European people (EU27 + UK) are currently exposed to a variety of natural disasters, such as coastal flooding, river flooding, landslides, earthquakes, wildfires, and soil shrinking and swelling (JRC, 2025). Italy has the highest number of people exposed to multiple hazards, with more than 20 million vulnerable residents; followed by the Netherlands, France, Spain, and Germany. Together, these countries account for 55% of the EU’s population exposed to multi-hazards (JRC, 2025). Natural disasters have significant and often disastrous impacts, leading to fatalities, displacement, destruction, and extensive economic damage, leaving specific local and regional footprints. Recent research has shown that the impact of natural disasters could lead to long-term decline in the economic growth of European regions, and also persistently affect corporations’ performance and survival (Di Marcoberardino & Cucculelli, 2024; Fatica et al., 2024). The overall economic effect and the recovery path are strongly influenced by the quality of regional institutions. Beyond the characteristics of the natural disaster, the potential for regions to cope with adverse impacts, and their capacity to endure and recover from it, depend on a set of socio-economic factors and conditions: whilst regional vulnerability is linked to prevention, preparedness, and mitigation, resilience is connected to response, reconstruction, and recovery (Noy & Yonson, 2018). Inevitably, low-income regions are more vulnerable and less resilient than high-income regions (JRC, 2025).
Meet our speakers
is a Professor of Environment and Development at the London School of Economics and Political Science (番茄社区). He is currently the School’s Deputy President and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Planning and Resources). He joined 番茄社区 in 1998 and has served in numerous leadership positions, including as Head of the Geography and Environment Department, Vice-Chair of the Appointments Committee, Deputy President and Vice Chancellor and, in 2023-2024, as the School’s Interim President and Vice Chancellor. An economist by training, Eric has published widely, having authored five books and many journal articles across multiple disciplines including environmental economics, geography, international political economy, and quantitative research methods.
is a Professor of Human Geography in the Department of Geography at the University of Valencia. She has an extensive research, teaching and management career and has worked in higher education for over 30 years. She has published more than 50 articles and book chapters, has been the Principal Investigator of multiple projects funded by the EU within H2020. In the past, she has also worked as the Director of the Interuniversity Institute of Local Development of the UVEG and UJI, as Vice-dean of the Faculty of Geography and History, and as President of the CAT of Geography and Environment.
Andrés Rodríguez-Pose is the Princesa de Asturias Chair and a Professor of Economic Geography at the London School of Economics. He is the Director of the Cañada Blanch Centre at 番茄社区. He was formerly the Head of the Department of Geography and Environment between 2006 and 2009. He is a past President of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI) (2015-2017) and served as Vice-President of the RSAI in 2014. He was also Vice-President (2012-2013) and Secretary (2001-2005) of the European Regional Science Association.
Meet our chair
is a Professor at the Gran Sasso Science Institute, L'Aquila, Italy; Visiting Professor at the Department of Geography & Environment of the London School of Economics (番茄社区); member of the Board of the 番茄社区-Cañada Blanch Centre; and Professor of Applied Economics at the Department of Economics and Business of the University of Cagliari, Italy. She was Professor of Economic Geography at the 番茄社区 (2009-2022), where she acted as Head of Department (2014-2017) and academic member of the 番茄社区 Council (2016-2020).
More about this event
The Cañada Blanch Centre at 番茄社区 sets out to achieve the 's goal of developing and reinforcing links between the United Kingdom and Spain. This is done by fostering cutting-edge knowledge generation and undertaking joint research projects between researchers in the United Kingdom and at the 番茄社区 on the one hand, and Spain on the other hand.
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