The European Union needs to secure new increased financing, a “new Marshall Plan”, with the aim of creating a fund for the adaptation of its member countries to Climate Change and to deal with the effects of extreme weather events.
This was the central conclusion expressed as a proposal during the CPMR Conference hosted by the Western Greece Region at the Achaia Clauss premises in Patras and on the topic of Tackling the effects of climate change in coastal areas.
The event was opened by the Deputy Regional Governor P.E. of Achaia and Vice President of CPMR, Fokion Zaimistogether with the President of CPMR, Prefect of Brittany, Loïg Chesnais–Girard.
Mr. Zaimis, among other things, emphasized the following: “Today we are faced with two hard truths. First, the magnitude of the challenge of climate change is not only large, but is increasing by leaps and bounds year following year. Second, the time we have to respond to the challenge of climate change is not just short, it is decreasing dramatically year by year. We are obliged to reduce to zero the time required to study, act and deal with climate change, which is now an existential threat to society, the economy and life itself on the planet. Especially for the maritime areas, we must look for innovative solutions that will reduce the response time to zero and alternative strategies that will minimize the effects of extreme weather phenomena.
Speakers at the meeting were Davide Strangis, Maria Rubble Ferreira Costa, Mariëtte Van Leeuwen, Massimo Erase, Ioanna Fanariotou, Vicki Panagiotopoulou, Sergio Arjona and Luigi Cipriani.
Closing the event, Mr. Zaimis made a special reference to the “Friends of the Mediterranean Macro-Region” initiative, which is spearheaded by Western Greece and supported by Regions from France, Italy, Malta and Turkey. The aim is to create a permanent body for dialogue, exchange of views and cooperation in the Mediterranean in order to launch solutions to common problems through international collaborations and transnational programs. “The success of this initiative will contribute the most to the exchange of good practices for dealing with climate change phenomena that we are discussing today”Mr. Zaimis characteristically pointed out.
After the work of the conference, the guests of the Region visited the Teaching Factory where the professor, Panagiotis StavropoulosPanagiotis presented studies and works related to the subject of the discussion.
It is noted that tomorrow, Friday, March 22, at the same place, the meeting of the Politburo of the CPMR is planned with the participation of the European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreirawhile government officials, MEPs, representatives of authorities and institutions from France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Albania, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Romania are also expected to attend the meeting.
In the context of the meeting, during the time period 10.10-10.40, the European Commissioner will be available for statements to the representatives of the media Elisa Ferreirathe President of the CPMR and the Brittany Region Loïg Chesnais-Girard, the General Secretary of the CPMR Eleni Marianouthe Regional Governor of Western Greece, Nektarios Farmakis and the Vice-President of the Inter-Mediterranean Committee & Deputy Regional Governor P.E. Achaia, Fokion Zaimis.
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