Mitsotakis urges climate action after Greece battled almost 1,300 wildfires in August

·

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said wildfires that ripped through the outskirts of Athens and other parts of Greece this month underlined the need for radical shifts in behaviour to tackle global warming.

Everything needed to change in order to minimise the effects of the climate crisis, he told parliament on Wednesday during a debate on the wildfires and criticism of the government’s response to them.

Dealing with the crisis “is forcing us to change everything; the way we produce agricultural products, how we move around, how we generate energy and the way we build our homes,” he said.

READ MORE: Mitsotakis asks locals to conserve power as Greece battles fires and ‘worst heatwave since 1987’.

Mitsotakis was speaking in Parliament on Wednesday.

Part of a succession of blazes that struck southern Europe during a summer heatwave, the Greek fires scorched more than a quarter million acres of pine forest, with the island of Evia and areas of the Peloponnese, including near the archaeological site of the ancient Olympics, also hit.

Mitsotakis told lawmakers an earlier public apology for the disaster was also a call for action to become better at tackling such phenomena.

“We were called to put out 1,279 wildfires … the majority were tackled in the beginning but some got away. Preparedness was not adequate,” he said.

Defending the response of the fire brigade and civil protection services, he reiterated that his government’s top priority was to save lives.

READ MORE: Greek government defends response as Evia wildfires burn for eighth day.

During August, Greece recorded its hottest temperatures since 1987.

Mitsotakis, who has approved a 500-million-euro ($587 million) aid budget for Evia and the Attica region around Athens, said the protracted heatwave had turned forests into powder kegs.

“It is wrong to say that wildfires are only put out from the air. We cannot have a helicopter above every home,” he said, but pledged to increase aerial firefighting capacities and set up a force able to operate efficiently inside forests.

READ MORE: Australian helicopters arrive in Athens and prepare to fight wildfires across Greece.

Source: Reuters.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From Metallica to Maritime: The many lives of Greek shipping tycoon Harry Vafias

Though Greek shipping tycoon, Harry Vafias, spends much time working, it certainly isn't a case of 'all work and no play.’

‘I want them to know their word matters’: Peter Georgiou stands against gender violence

Peter Georgiou, a real estate agent from Rushcutters Bay and father of four-year-old twins Leila and Lola, believes change begins at home.

Thessaloniki’s Byzantine walls to shine with new light project

Thessaloniki’s iconic Byzantine Walls are set to be illuminated under a major cultural initiative announced by the Greek Ministry of Culture.

Greek World Heritage Cities face rising climate threats

Iconic Greek cities—Athens, Thessaloniki, Corfu, Rhodes, and Patmos—face serious climate threats, according to a new UNESCO-backed report.

Are apps like Duolingo enough to learn Greek, or do we need a tutor?

For many people who want to learn conversational Greek, an app, can be a very useful addition to your program.

You May Also Like

Taste of Greece comes to the NGV Kids Summer Festival 2023

The NGV Kids Summer Festival returns this school holidays with free performances, artist-led workshops and activities for the whole family.

GCM Language and Cultural School bring students of all ages together at Annual Dance

Greek Community of Melbourne’s Language and Culture Schools held its Annual School Dinner Dance on Saturday.

Greek police record 2,104 public movement violations

The Hellenic Police (ELAS) recorded a total of 2,104 violations of a government lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus on Wednesday.