Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the Parliament on Climate Change on Wednesday on the issue of climate change and measures his government has taken to battle the recent extreme weather phenomena that battered Greece. Some of the key points he raises included:
“The defense against the climate crisis is a global endeavor, transcending national boundaries. The evolving conditions surpass the capacities of infrastructures in all countries. It is the duty of policymakers to monitor and enact new response measures to ensure the critical concept of resilience.”
He went on to say that all these phenomena impact the entirety of a country’s activities.
Mitsotakis says scientists consider the rise in water temperature by 2 degrees Celsius over the next 5 years in the Mediterranean basin a given, raising the risk of tropical storms for every degree it ascends.
“We are aware that globally, due to the planet’s warming from 2010 to 2020, extreme weather events increased by 50% compared to the previous decade. This year, we faced the planet’s hottest summer and fall,” the PM underlined.
Commenting on the extreme weather phenomena that hit Greece he said “A few days after Daniel, millions of tons of water poured into the Pinios River, while Volos recorded rainfall percentages in a day that Attica sees in a year.”
“We, too, paid a heavy price for these new conditions. The fire ravaged Evros due to the triangle of high temperatures, dry atmosphere, and strong winds, while firefighting forces battled on 80 fronts.”
The PM outlined his government’s actions in response to the climate crisis, including, among other things, as he said “a proactive approach with flood prevention and infrastructure improvement projects already in motion.” These interventions also include:
- Ongoing efforts in the region of Evros to provide farmers the opportunity to rebuild their livestock and beekeepers to restore their bee colonies.
- The compensation of businesses affected by the extreme phenomena via a “strategic move to disburse 35% of the allocated 70% for their restoration before the upcoming holiday season.”
- Cattle farmers are set to benefit from initiatives allowing them to replace lost animals and refurbish their barns to meet new specifications.
- A substantial fund of 120 million euros has been approved to cover 80% of the costs for the restoration of each flooded building, marking a significant step toward recovery.
