Keynote in NEEDS 2026 Conference:
From Early Warnings to Action: How Scenario-Based Simulation Exercises Strengthen Drought Preparedness
Switzerland’s newly established drought monitoring and early-warning system forms the cornerstone of proactive drought management, shifting the focus from reactive crisis response to anticipatory action. By providing timely and accurate information and forecasts on drought development, it enables decision-makers to implement measures that reduce impacts. Yet, a persistent challenge remains: translating early warnings and information into efficient and coordinated action. An effective method for addressing this challenge is the use of exercises that simulate escalating drought scenarios. They bridge the gap between formal knowledge and real-world experience by allowing organizations to test early warning systems, plans, roles, and decision-making in a realistic but low-risk environment. Such simulations reveal strengths and weaknesses in existing structures, foster institutional learning, and enhance cooperation across local, regional, and national levels. Experiences from such exercises in Switzerland show that they provide essential insights for improving both strategic and operational readiness. The keynote will present the new drought monitoring and early warning system, the drought exercise set-up as well as concrete lessons learned from recent Swiss exercises. Based on that, practical recommendations to enhance drought preparedness nationally and internationally will be outlined.
About speaker:
Dr. Fabia Hüsler is Head of the Swiss National Drought Programme and Deputy Head of Section in the Hydrology Division of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). She is an environmental and climate scientist with over 15 years of experience in hydrology, remote sensing, and climate research across academia and government. Her work focuses on translating early warning information into preparedness and response, with a strong interest in integrated risk management for natural hazards and in approaches that strengthen institutional readiness and decision-making under drought conditions. Fabia Hüsler holds a PhD in Climate Sciences from the University of Bern, specializing in satellite-based snow cover climatology over the European Alps, as well as a Master’s degree in Physical Geography.
