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This paper describes how increasing natural hazards and complex emergencies require optimizations in the Swiss civil protection system. It argues that joining the EU’s Copernicus program could ensure satellite imagery access for disaster risk reduction, helping to save lives.

Satellite imagery has proven crucial to the management of disasters and complex crises, assisting in preparedness, response, and recovery efforts and enhancing the protection of populations against hazards. Despite the effectiveness of the Swiss Rapid Mapping Service, Switzerland’s lack of a national Earth Observation program hinders its ability to leverage satellite imagery for disaster risk reduction. Swiss authorities could secure swift and reliable access to satellite data through engagement with initiatives such as the EU’s Copernicus program. The effective use of this data requires training, institutional awareness, and its integration throughout all phases of crisis management.