Mitsotakis on Fires and Climate Action

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in his weekly social media address on Sunday, marked the 51st anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece, warning of new global threats, particularly the intensifying climate crisis, CE Report quotes Athens-Macedonia

Referring to the recent wildfires, he noted that Greece had reached the highest fire risk level due to prolonged heat and strong winds. “The state mechanism fought a titanic battle against dozens of fires,” Mitsotakis said, thanking emergency services and volunteers for their efforts and emphasizing the successful use of the 112 alert system. He assured support for those who lost property and reaffirmed the state's commitment to recovery and resilience.

Mitsotakis also announced two major environmental initiatives. The first is the creation of two new National Marine Parks in the Ionian and Aegean Seas, covering 27,500 sq km, making them the largest in the Mediterranean. These zones aim to protect marine life and will ban destructive practices like bottom trawling.

The second initiative addresses worsening water scarcity, with Greece ranking among the countries most at risk. The Prime Minister said a comprehensive national water management reform will be unveiled in September, stressing that water will remain a protected public resource.