Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, announced that this summer clearly showed that the European Union must strengthen its efforts to combat climate change. She noted that this includes adapting the budget to the challenges posed by global warming. These remarks came after a summer filled with climate crises, including heatwaves, wildfires, and floods.
Sense of Urgency in Climate Action
Metsola stated in an interview that in the "State of the Union" speech to be delivered by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, on Wednesday, the issue of climate will be significantly addressed. She added, "The sense of urgency and the understanding that we cannot let a winter pass before we are ready for the next summer is clearly felt."
Challenges Posed by Climate Change
Metsola referred to climate change and its effects on various countries, stating, "If we look at the situation country by country, if we pay attention to the drying up of rivers and the unpreparedness of homes and the vulnerability of populations, we will clearly see this reality." She emphasized that this issue must also be considered in the settings of the EU's multiannual financial framework.
The President of the European Parliament also stressed the need to adapt the multiannual financial framework to climate needs, saying, "Can we design this framework in a way that aligns with these challenges?" She pointed to the increasing requests from member states for financial support against climate disasters, stating that these requests must be taken seriously.
Combining Climate and Economic Issues
Although Metsola avoided strong calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, she assured that climate actions and competitiveness cannot be in conflict. She said, "We made a mistake in the past by considering the economy and the environment as two completely separate issues. If we recognize both together, we will be much smarter."
Ursula von der Leyen's speech is expected to focus on issues such as competitiveness, affordability, and security, including the topic of migration. Given the existing challenges and the need for urgent action, the European Union must seriously address these issues.
