Changes in climate, land use, and land management impact the occurrence and severity of wildland fires in many parts of the world. This is particularly evident in Europe, where ongoing changes in land use have strongly modified fire patterns over the last decades. Although satellite data by the European Forest Fire Information System provide large-scale wildland fire statistics across European countries, there is still a crucial need to collect and summarize in-depth local analysis and understanding of the wildland fire condition and associated challenges across Europe. This article aims to provide a general overview of the current wildland fire patterns and challenges as perceived by national representatives, supplemented by national fire statistics (2009–2018) across Europe. For each of the 31 countries included, we present a perspective authored by scientists or practitioners from each respective country, representing a wide range of disciplines and cultural backgrounds. The authors were selected from members of the COST Action “Fire and the Earth System: Science & Society” funded by the European Commission with the aim to share knowledge and improve communication about wildland fire. Where relevant, a brief overview of key studies, particular wildland fire challenges a country is facing, and an overview of notable recent fire events are also presented. Key perceived challenges included (1) the lack of consistent and detailed records for wildland fire events, within and across countries, (2) an increase in wildland fires that pose a risk to properties and human life due to high population densities and sprawl into forested regions, and (3) the view that, irrespective of changes in management, climate change is likely to increase the frequency and impact of wildland fires in the coming decades. Addressing challenge (1) will not only be valuable in advancing national and pan-European wildland fire management strategies, but also in evaluating perceptions (2) and (3) against more robust quantitative evidence.

Biocomposites reinforced with natural fibers represent an eco-friendly and inexpensive alternative to conventional petroleum-based materials and have been increasingly utilized in a wide variety of industrial applications due to their numerous advantages, such as their good mechanical properties, low production costs, renewability, and biodegradability. However, these engineered composite materials have inherent downsides, such as their increased flammability when subjected to heat flux or flame initiators, which can limit their range of applications. As a result, certain attempts are still being made to reduce the flammability of biocomposites. The combustion of biobased composites can potentially create life-threatening conditions in buildings, resulting in substantial human and material losses. Additives known as flame-retardants (FRs) have been commonly used to improve the fire protection of wood and biocomposite materials, textiles, and other fields for the purpose of widening their application areas. At present, this practice is very common in the construction sector due to stringent fire safety regulations on residential and public buildings. The aim of this study was to present and discuss recent advances in the development of fire-resistant biocomposites. The flammability of wood and natural fibers as material resources to produce biocomposites was researched to build a holistic picture. Furthermore, the potential of lignin as an eco-friendly and low-cost FR additive to produce high-performance biocomposites with improved technological and fire properties was also discussed in detail. The development of sustainable FR systems, based on renewable raw materials, represents a viable and promising approach to manufacturing biocomposites with improved fire resistance, lower environmental footprint, and enhanced health and safety performance.

The growing frequency and severity of climate-induced disasters—such as floods, heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires—pose significant threats to sustainable development worldwide. Integrating Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) has emerged as a strategy imperative for enhancing societal resilience and protecting developmental gains. This review synthesizes the current knowledge and practice at the intersection of CCA and DRR, drawing on international frameworks, national policies, and local implementation strategies. We assess the role of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030), the Paris Agreement, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in promoting policy coherence and multi-level governance. Particular attention is given to the effectiveness of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA), and community-based approaches that address both climate vulnerabilities and disaster risks while delivering co-benefits for ecosystems and livelihoods. Case studies from regions highly exposed to climate-related hazards, including the Global South and Europe, illustrate how integrated approaches are operationalized and what barriers persist, including institutional silos, limited financing, and data gaps. For example, Bangladesh has achieved over a 70% reduction in flood-related mortality, while Kenya’s drought-resilient agriculture has increased food security by 35% in affected regions. The review highlights best practices in risk-informed planning, participatory decision-making, and knowledge co-production, emphasizing the need for inclusive governance and cross-sector collaboration. By critically examining the synergies and trade-offs between adaptation and risk reduction, this paper offers a pathway to more resilient, equitable, and sustainable development. It concludes with recommendations for enhancing integration at the policy and practice levels, supporting both immediate risk management and long-term transformation in a changing climate.

The growing complexity and risk profile of fire and emergency incidents necessitate advanced training methodologies that go beyond traditional approaches. Live-fire drills and classroom-based instruction, while foundational, often fall short in providing safe, repeatable, and scalable training environments that accurately reflect the dynamic nature of real-world emergencies. Recent advancements in immersive technologies, including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), extended reality (XR), and simulation-based systems, offer promising alternatives to address these challenges. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the integration of VR, AR, MR, XR, and simulation technologies into firefighter and incident commander training. It examines current practices across fire services and emergency response agencies, highlighting the capabilities of immersive and interactive platforms to enhance operational readiness, decision-making, situational awareness, and team coordination. This paper analyzes the benefits of these technologies, such as increased safety, cost-efficiency, data-driven performance assessment, and personalized learning pathways, while also identifying persistent challenges, including technological limitations, realism gaps, and cultural barriers to adoption. Emerging trends, such as AI-enhanced scenario generation, biometric feedback integration, and cloud-based collaborative environments, are discussed as future directions that may further revolutionize fire service education. This review aims to support researchers, training developers, and emergency service stakeholders in understanding the evolving landscape of digital training solutions, with the goal of fostering more resilient, adaptive, and effective emergency response systems.