Heatwave: Greens call for emergency meeting of EU leaders

Amid a record-breaking heatwave across the continent, European environment ministers met in Luxembourg on 25 June. The European Green Party is calling on the ministers to prepare an emergency meeting of EU government leaders to urgently strengthen Europe’s climate protections and the Green Deal.

Ciarán Cuffe, co-chair of the European Green Party, said:

This heatwave is rapidly turning into a major European public health crisis. The World Health Organization stated already earlier this month that over the last four years, more than 200,000 people in Europe have died due to extreme heat.

Europe faces a clear choice: to weaken or strengthen the Green Deal protections that keep people safe. The science is clear. All people living in Europe are already suffering the consequences.

Europe must now choose to double down on policies that protect us from extreme weather.

Investing in renewable energy from wind and solar power strengthens our energy independence over time, lowers bills, and frees us from fossil fuel emissions that are trapping the heat in our atmosphere.

Even very simple solutions as planting trees and restoring nature already cools our cities and protects the countryside from floods and droughts.

Vula Tsetsi, co-chair of the European Green Party, concluded:

The WHO reminds us that nearly all heat-related deaths are preventable. Preventable. That single word should guide Europe’s response because this crisis is not just about the weather; it is also about the political mistakes that have been made.

The European People’s Party, together with the far right, has been working to roll back key parts of the Green Deal, from nature restoration to deforestation protections, precisely those measures that protect people from heatwaves, floods, droughts, and wildfires.

They claim this is about cutting red tape, but it is letting big corporations to do whatever they like. The Green Deal is not an abstract environmental project, it is Europe’s protection plan against the heatwaves, the droughts, the wildfires, and the flash floods coming from the climate breakdown.

The State and government leaders must convene in a top-level emergency meeting to urgently strengthen Europe’s climate protections and the Green Deal. History will judge the political choices made today and in the next months.

Europe-wide heatwave

France recorded its hottest day ever while Paris crossed 40°C, and the UK broke its June heat record. Spain registered its highest daily average temperature ever recorded for June, while Italy placed major cities under maximum heat alert.

Belgium recorded its hottest 24 June since records began. The Netherlands experienced its warmest June night since records began. Poland has convened an emergency ministerial meeting after forecasts above 40°C in major cities.

Featured image via the Canary