The Minister of Climate spoke about the catastrophic floods that test the endurance of even the most advanced countries, about the problem of water scarcity, but also about the dozens of fires that continue to break out every day in the country, just before November, due to the prolonged lack of rain of Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias in an interview he gave to “ANT1”.
“In the Ministry of Civil Protection, there is no good news. There is a permanent effort to protect our fellow citizens in every phenomenon and in every situation. Unfortunately, for those who doubted, the climate crisis is here. You see that for the next ten days – fortnight we will have no rains in the country, at all or hardly at all. On the other hand, in northern Europe more than 20 lives were lost from the bad weather Boris and I am very afraid that the account will be tragic from yesterday’s catastrophic floods in Spain, where 400mm of water/m2 fell in Valencia in 4 hours” said the minister , noting that it is crucial that the regions and municipalities carry out systematic and timely cleanings and at the same time to proceed as far as the as quickly as possible the implementation of the necessary anti-flooding projects required by the new, extreme climatic conditions and the natural disasters they cause.
“Really, a prioritization of resources must be done, based on the most important projects, which must be promoted, beyond any bureaucracy or time delay, because nature, unfortunately, does not wait, not even the extreme phenomena we are facing. If you ask me, all these decades after the post-colonialism we have been delayed, we also had 10 years of restrictive fiscal policies. Be careful now, I will never interfere in the work of justice and I will not comment. I would, however, beg you very much to help in this direction. The state’s job is to run these “heavy” projects. Some, however, are stuck and were stuck for environmental reasons, so-and-so Association comes, so-and-so interested or not and blocks them in the Council of Ministers. And some are in competitive processes, possibly there are conflicts of interest and they are trying to mature, in order to be implemented” he said characteristically and added: “It is obvious that new designs and new projects are required. It was shown to Daniel, where 7 meters of water covered Palamas, the villages around Karditsa, the Thessalian plain and Karla became three times her size. The Prime Minister announced the implementation of many large investment projects and provided these funds and resources.”
Regarding Kifissos – where, as the minister said, in its northern, undefined part, there are two factories and about 50 houses, while to the south Rentis, Moschato and Kallithea are below the height of the river level – Mr. . Kikilias stated: “The regional governor, Mr. Hardalias did this year, based on all that we have sent as a ministry since mid-August, and works in the closed part of Kifissos and cleaning efforts. I am pleased with the efforts of other regional governors and mayors, our cooperation has been excellent all this time, in very difficult circumstances.
And in other areas of Attica, which are on the border between urban and forest, houses have been built, which have not even been legalized yet, as the mayor of Chalandri will tell you. Are the citizens to blame? My point is that it is not the fault of the citizens because the state over time in the last 50 years has legalized all these situations. So here we come after 50 years to try what? To inform citizens early, to draw up plans, as has been done in the past, so that we can move people if necessary in a natural disaster. We will fight with them. If you tell me what should be done, let’s go back in time for how we became Attica from Athens to a fully built Attica, I can’t do that. What I believe is that the state should think very seriously and in an organized way to start creating a piggy bank, a significant amount, and accept that we will have to, by compensating some of our fellow citizens, demolish some houses and clear streams.”
Finally, regarding the problem of water scarcity, the minister expressed the opinion that the agricultural model should be changed and the irrigation of crops should be done in a more organized way, so that large amounts of water are not wasted, adding: “I believe that on the second or third phase work must be done with non-potable water, let’s say washing cars to give an example, because the drinking water we have is now precious and we must protect it. We must admit, however, that we have entered a row and funding has been found for many small irrigation projects, small dams both on our islands and on the mainland – call Mr. Ask the Minister of Rural Development to inform you about them – which will enable us to collect water in the winter and be able to make better use of it in the summer. And as for the tourist model, I must say that the large number of swimming pools on the islands of the Cyclades and in areas that do not have much water, and this still creates issues and issues.”
#climate #crisis #radical #measures #needed
**Interview Title: Addressing the Climate Crisis: An Interview with Minister Vassilis Kikilias**
**Interviewer:** Good evening, Minister Kikilias. Thank you for joining us today. You recently spoke about the severe impacts of climate change, including catastrophic floods and fires. Can you elaborate on the current situation and what measures are being taken to protect citizens?
**Minister Kikilias:** Thank you for having me. The situation is indeed dire. We are witnessing severe weather patterns that are unprecedented even for advanced countries. This month alone, we faced catastrophic floods in Spain and harsh weather conditions that led to the loss of lives in Northern Europe. Here in Greece, the lack of rainfall continues to create serious challenges, with no immediate relief in sight.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the need for systematic cleaning and anti-flooding projects. What specific actions is the Ministry of Civil Protection taking?
**Minister Kikilias:** We are prioritizing the implementation of essential projects that can mitigate the impacts of these extreme weather events. The regional municipalities have been advised to carry out timely cleaning operations. However, some critical projects have faced delays due to environmental concerns and bureaucratic hurdles. We must overcome these obstacles swiftly because nature does not wait for red tape.
**Interviewer:** You discussed the need for new designs and projects. Can you provide examples of what these projects entail?
**Minister Kikilias:** Certainly. For instance, we see areas like Palamas that suffered from flooding where water levels reached unprecedented heights. Our government is focused on launching large-scale investment projects that will enhance infrastructure resilience. These include improving riverbanks, enhancing drainage systems, and developing comprehensive flood management strategies.
**Interviewer:** In your view, how critical is public awareness about climate change in relation to these disasters?
**Minister Kikilias:** Public awareness is essential. Citizens must understand that the climate crisis is here, and it affects our everyday lives. Actions such as illegal construction on vulnerable lands only exacerbate the problem. We must work together to ensure sustainable practices and compliance with zoning regulations to protect our communities further.
**Interviewer:** Given the severity of these challenges, what message would you like to convey to the public and local governments?
**Minister Kikilias:** I urge everyone to cooperate in this challenging time. Local governments must expedite their processes to tackle these issues head-on. Our work requires a collective effort to safeguard the people and the environment. The ministry is committed to ensuring the safety of our citizens and implementing necessary policies, but we need everyone onboard.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Minister Kikilias, for your insights. It’s clear that addressing climate change requires immediate and coordinated action. We appreciate your efforts in this critical area.
**Minister Kikilias:** Thank you for your time. Together, we can face these challenges and work towards a safer future for all.
