Political cowardice prevents European governments from responding decisively to the impact of climate crisiswhile Epirus is hit by an unprecedented heatwave wave, warns the Teresa Rimmeracompetent Commissioner of EU for the green transition.

In an interview with Guardianthe former Spanish Environment Minister said that, despite the fact that the consequences of the climate crisis are now evident, they are not yet translated into sufficient political action.

“When one looks at the map of Europe, it is scary“, Ribera said, referring to June’s extreme temperatures from Iberia to the United Kingdom. “In Welva, on Saturday it reached 46 points. In Brussels it had 36 and in Eastern Europe 38. These temperatures have a serious impact on ecosystems, economics and health. However, we have not yet passed through the headings of extreme phenomena in the substantive preparation and information of citizens“

Ribera, speaking with the Commissioner Jessica Rosalresponsible for the environment and the circular economy, he stressed that we still have a long way for European infrastructure and cities to adapt to climate reality.

A key obstacle, according to the same, is the attitude of some parties that even deny the existence of climate change or consider it very expensive to adapt. “I’m sorry but it will cost us much more if we don’t act“He warned. “You cannot tell the citizens that climate change is the existential threat of our time and then pretend that there is no problem. But that’s exactly what they do. And the world sees it when e.g. has 46 points in June in Welva“

She also recalled the deadly floods in eastern Spain last October, with 229 victims, stressing that such phenomena are not isolated. “We are still in the stage of “anecdotological” approach, and this is alarming“, He noted.

He also pointed out that many politicians avoid proposing bold solutions for fear of alienating voters, which characterizes “dangerous to democracy”.

“It is wrong to believe that problems will be solved by themselves by the market“, He underlined. “We must not hide them, but understand and manage them. This requires political courage and honesty“

The denial of reality, he added, undermines citizens’ confidence in the political class. Many far -right parties in Europe link the climate crisis with ideological controversy. OR VOX In Spain it calls for the abolition of the law on energy transition, while the Prime Minister of Hungary Victor Orban It has called European climate policies for the “utopian imagination” that increases energy costs.

However, Ribera believes that there is room for political consensus. He referred the 1.4 billion -euro deal between the Spanish government and the Andalusian region to protect Doniana’s wetlands, one of Europe’s most important ecosystems.

Rosval, who visited the area along with Ribera, struck the importance of water management ahead of the new climate reality. “Security is not just weapons and borders – it is also the nature that protects us. Water is a strategic resource“

He emphasized the importance of water for agriculture, energy and even digital infrastructure depending on data centers. “Water is critical. Not only for security but also for the economy. We’ve taken it for a long time, and that has to change“

Spain, as one of Europe’s most southern countries and faster heated, is already experiencing serious consequences, such as desertification and extreme temperatures. This year June, according to the meteorological service Aemet“Broke” the previous records with an average temperature of 23.6 ° C – 0.8 ° C higher than 2017 and 3.5 ° C above the average of 1991-2020.