EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib says the bloc must invest more in climate change response and accelerate countermeasures as France and Spain prepare for another record-breaking heatwave that could spark new wildfires and exacerbate existing blazes.
Lahbib stressed that the EU must ensure its climate strategy matches the reality on the ground, as global warming outpaces previous scientific forecasts. She urged increased funding, greater awareness of wildfire risk, and a focus on forest management.
“Climate change is accelerating. So our response must change rapidly too,” Lahbib told Reuters. “We must prepare for risks before disaster strikes, not simply react afterwards.”
Lahbib’s remarks came as devastating wildfires continued to rage across parts of France and Spain, forcing 330,000 people to evacuate. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the country had “very likely” conducted its largest civilian evacuation outside wartime. Around 220,000 people fled their homes in France and more than 110,000 in Spain.
Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent. As temperatures rise, mounting evidence suggests climate change could have severe economic consequences for the continent. The annual Lancet Countdown report on Health and Climate Change notes that Europe is very poorly prepared for the health impacts of global warming.
In France’s southwestern Gironde region — the worst-hit by wildfires — officials said they brought the blazes under control overnight Tuesday into Wednesday. However, more than 42,000 hectares have been burned, an area roughly four times the size of Paris. While the fire slowed, it was not yet fully contained. The arriving heatwave is worrying officials and residents, who fear conditions could worsen dramatically.
Temperatures in the region are expected to reach 42°C (108°F) on Wednesday, accompanied by dry winds that could fan the wildfires, according to Gironde Prefect Sophie Brocas. In neighboring Spain, authorities are dealing with multiple fires but have made progress, allowing thousands to return home. Spain’s national weather agency warned that wildfire risk would be “very high or extreme in most parts of the country.”
On Tuesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared that climate change denial is “the worst fuel” as the world faces a climate emergency.
