In fire season and on fires that are still faced by the firefighting forces as well as the development of the AEGIS program was mentioned, among others, by the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias at the Green Deal 2024 conference organized by the Technical Chamber of Greece, with the theme: “Resilience at the heart of sustainable development and green and digital transformation” and held at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.
“The fires continue. The fire season is over, but yesterday we had it in Ios, Naxos, Kalavryta, the Greek-Albanian border and Crete. They are some of the 9,000 starts we had this year, in a fire season that started in March”, Mr. Kikilias pointed out and added: “I think we’re in the toughest spot we’ve been in maybe 30-35 years. With ramifications, in everything to do with primary production, water resources and much more. I fear that very soon we will have violent migration flows in the southern hemisphere of the planet, as a result of the climate crisis. Unfortunately, it is an insurmountable reality.”
Regarding the development of the AEGIS program, the minister emphasized that in the last 11 months projects worth 1.8 billion euros have been auctioned and announced that next week a contract for weather stations and radars will be signed. “The country has had no meteorological stations and radars since 2004 and the ones it had in 2004 did not work. “Well, after 24 years we will get meteorological stations and radars”, he pointed out and added that AEGIS is a broad project that also includes agencies such as TEE. At the same time, he emphasized that AEGIS also includes the supply of sensors, in the forests, drones, satellite images, etc.
With reference to this year’s fire season, Mr. Kikilias pointed out that with worst pyrometeorological conditions of the last 40 years had 14% fewer burned acres than the twenty-year average.
As for Northeast Attica, as the minister said, he has proposed the creation of a 250 meter wide zone along Dionysos Street, from Dionysos to Damaria, at the foot of Penteli.
Regarding the responsibilities of the ministry for anti-flooding projects, he clarified that the responsibility of Civil Protection is to coordinate the services and to “call 112 early”.
In addition, Mr. Kikilias referred to Kifissos, explaining that the northern bed of the river is uncharted and undefined. “In the northern bed in the northern part of Kifissos, which is not demarcated, there are 50 to 60 houses and one or two factories and this must somehow be solved,” he noted.
Regarding the seasonal firefighters he pointed out that on Wednesday he will hold a meeting to discuss with them and added that from 2021 to date, the current government has made 1,550 of the 2,500 seasonal firefighters permanent while stressing that a new competition will be held for all seasonals.
#difficult #place #years
**Interview with Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Minister Kikilias. We’ve seen the devastating impact of wildfires in Greece this year. Can you elaborate on the current fire situation and why you believe this is one of the toughest times we’ve faced in decades?
**Vassilis Kikilias:** Thank you for having me. As you mentioned, the fire season has been particularly concerning. We’ve witnessed approximately 9,000 fire outbreaks this year, even as we move into what is traditionally considered the off-season. The intensity of these fires, occurring in places like Ios, Naxos, and the Greek-Albanian border, signifies that we are grappling with unprecedented challenges brought on by climate change. This situation poses risks not only to our ecosystems but also threatens primary production and water resources. The ramifications are extensive, and I genuinely believe we may be in one of the toughest periods in the last 30 to 35 years.
**Interviewer:** Those statistics are alarming. What role does the AEGIS program play in addressing these challenges?
**Vassilis Kikilias:** The AEGIS program is our proactive response aimed at bolstering Greece’s civil protection mechanisms. Over the past 11 months, we’ve allocated around 1.8 billion euros to various projects under this initiative. This funding supports infrastructure improvements, advanced firefighting technology, and better emergency response strategies. Our goal is to enhance our capacity to deal with these emergencies more effectively and ultimately protect our communities and environment.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the potential for violent migration flows due to the climate crisis. Can you explain what that means for Greece and the broader international community?
**Vassilis Kikilias:** Certainly. As environmental conditions worsen, particularly in the southern hemisphere, we anticipate significant migration challenges. People will be compelled to leave their homes due to food insecurity, water scarcity, and other climate-related issues. For Greece and Europe, this means we must prepare for increased migration flows, which could place additional strain on our resources and services. The climate crisis is an insurmountable reality that we must confront collectively, and we need international cooperation to manage these impending challenges.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Minister Kikilias. It’s crucial that we continue to focus on resilience and adaptation in tackling these pressing issues.
**Vassilis Kikilias:** Thank you for the opportunity to discuss these important matters. It’s essential for all of us to work together towards sustainable solutions.
