By Korina Georgiou

The voices of scientists ring out loud in a final warning that human activity has reached “red”, threatening the safety of the planet.

According to leading research, published in the journal Naturethe Earth has already exceeded the safety limits for human habitation as rising temperatures, disruption of water systems and destruction of natural habitats have reached alarming levels.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, the Commissioner for Environment, Oceans & Fisheries, Virginius Sinkevicius he spoke exclusively to SKAI and Korina Georgiou on the measures taken by the European Union to achieve the objectives of the European Green Agreement and to curb the consequences of the climate crisis.

THE Virginius Sinkevicius underlined the need to completely get rid of fossil fuels in order for humanity to achieve “net zero” and the transition to a circular economy based on renewable energy sources as the antidote to the climate crisis.

Read the interview here:

Korina Georgiou: Human activity has pushed the planet into the danger zone on seven of eight newly delineated indicators for planetary security and justice, according to a new study on planetary health. How alarming is that?

Virginius Sinkevicius: This is not only alarming, I believe it is a very serious warning that may be one of the last and should not be ignored. We need to move towards a more circular economy. We cannot afford to maintain this linear economy based only on mass production. We have to reach zero emissions, that is our goal. There is no question of more sustainable fossil fuels. It is not only an effective measure to fight climate change, but it is also very important to ensure our strategic autonomy. First of all through renewable energy, which, if we manage to develop successfully, we will not need to import huge quantities and leave our strategic autonomy and competitiveness in the hands of unpredictable dictators.

K.G.: Scientists warn that we are in a new environmental state, extremes are the new normal. Worried we’ll see extreme heat waves this summer that could lead to even more aggressive droughts?

BS: Of course! We can already see that the summer can be very dry. It is extremely distressing to hear that these phenomena such as heat waves, droughts or floods are the new normal. I hope that these are temporary phenomena and that our restoration measures, our protective measures, schemes like “Fit for 55” will ensure that these extremes are not the new normal. But now seeing the reality in nature, yes, the situation is getting more and more difficult.

In all probability we will have a drier summer, which will primarily have huge consequences for our farmers, for their crops. Secondly, I think it will be very difficult for those who live in the cities. Because we see that these are the people who are most affected. These conditions will have a serious impact on their health. I hope that the cities as well as the regions have prepared for this, so that human lives are not lost. Because, this is the biggest price we risk paying at the end of the day.

I hope that World Environment Day is always an opportunity for us to think bigger. You know, when the crisis is not so visible, when it is not so sudden, we tend not to react and downplay it. Unfortunately no one will be able to invent a “vaccine” against climate change or biodiversity, no one will be able to sign a peace treaty with climate change or biodiversity. At the end of the day the situation can be disastrous.