Presidents of Mediterranean nations Greece, Italy, Croatia, Malta, Portugal and Slovenia have issued a joint statement calling for urgent action to address the dangers posed by the climate crisis.
In their appeal, the presidents noted the severity of the climate crisis in southern Europe, with the region having to deal with scorching heatwaves, wildfires and floods recently.
They fear that continued extreme summers will impact the tourism industry and their harvests, two vital pillars of the region.
“Extreme natural phenomena are destroying the ecosystem and threatening our daily life, our way of life,” said the statement.
The presidents have pledged their full support and have also called on the European Union, other Mediterranean nations and the international community to focus on the issue.
“There is no more time to waste, no more room for compromise due to political or economic reasons. It is imperative to act and take urgent, effective initiatives.
“All Mediterranean countries must coordinate and unite in a collective effort to halt and reverse the effects of the climate crisis.”
The initiative was launched by Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou on a phone call with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and was then extended to Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, Malta’s President George Vella, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar.
