Greek and Australian officials discuss strengthening cooperation to combat wildfires

Greece’s Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vasilis Kikilias, met with the Australian Ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan, this week to discuss joint efforts in addressing the escalating climate crisis and preventing forest fires.

Central to the talks was the upcoming visit of senior executives from Greece’s Fire Service to New South Wales, Australia. The visit aims to facilitate the exchange of expertise and best practices in wildfire prevention and response.

“Together, we continue to face the challenges of our time,” Kikilias said on X after the meeting.

Ambassador Duncan echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of bilateral collaboration in addressing wildfires, which have increasingly threatened both Greece and Australia in recent years.

“Great to catch up with Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Kikilias to discuss Greek-Australian collaboration to combat wildfires,” Duncan said on X.

The cooperative effort comes at a critical moment as both countries face longer and more intense wildfire seasons due to climate change.

Greece’s devastating wildfires during the summer of 2023 highlighted the urgent need for more effective strategies and international partnerships to mitigate the impact of such disasters.

In early June 2004, Queensland company McDermott Aviation, along with Pays Air Services, sent 28 firefighting aircraft to Greece, along with a crew and support staff of more than 200 people.

This marked the fifth fire season where McDermott Aviation have sent helicopters to support Greece throughout the summer.