Europe’s southerners want Brussels to save them from climate change

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🗞️ Driving the news: Southern European leaders, including Greece’s Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Spain’s Teresa Ribera, are pressuring Brussels to enhance climate adaptation efforts, arguing that climate change is disproportionately devastating their regions
• They advocate for increased EU funding and robust emergency response measures to address these challenges

🔭 The context: Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has committed to a European Climate Adaptation Plan, but there is tension over how much financial support will be allocated, particularly between the harder-hit south and the relatively less-affected north of Europe

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The urgency for climate adaptation highlights the broader impacts of climate change on food security, natural disasters, and infrastructure, emphasizing the need for coordinated global efforts to mitigate these effects

⏭️ What's next: The EU will face increasing demands for solidarity, as southern countries push for more financial and policy support to adapt to worsening climate conditions, potentially leading to contentious negotiations within the bloc

💬 One quote: "I'm a big believer [in] the green transition. [But] it cannot be at the expense of those who actually suffer from the consequences of climate change today." — Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greek Prime Minister

📈 One stat: The summer of 2023 saw wildfires in Greece that killed dozens and led to significant economic losses, including the shutdown of major tourist destinations during peak season

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