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Funded by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA)
The escalating frequency and severity of extreme weather events, induced by climate change, pose significant threats to global societies, economies, and ecosystems. Europe, and more specifically the Mediterranean area, has witnessed a surge in natural disasters resulting in substantial human casualties and economic losses. Despite advancements in disaster risk management, inadequate investment in early warning and detection systems have led to prolonged, costly, and frequent emergency responses, straining resources. UNICORN focuses on the development of Copernicus emergency applications, using Earth Observation technologies and data to address the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme events (fires, floods) and geohazards (volcanoes) and their impact on society, the economy and the environment. UNICORN develops tools and applications for early warning, forecasting, and hazard monitoring that enable a resilient society, better informed emergency services, and effective short-term recovery. It proposes innovative solutions for local authorities, policy makers, citizens, and industries which will increase their preparedness for extreme events and geohazards. UNICORN's approach involves creating state-of-the-art, scalable and transferable services tailored to user needs, pushing technological boundaries for precise, timely, and actionable results from data and knowledge. UNICORN is based on four use cases from different European regions, hazards, target stakeholders, and technologies, through an end user validation method to build a resilient European landscape. UNICORN aims to enhance resilience and inclusivity by improving forecasting for natural hazards and boosting emergency management at various levels. Leveraging Copernicus Emergency services, it empowers local authorities, citizens, industries, and services to mitigate climate change and geohazard impacts for increased competitiveness and sustainability.