Mediterranean at heart of climate crisis, warns Greek premier

ATHENS

Mediterranean region lies at the core of the global climate crisis, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday

Addressing the parliamentary plenary session on the reconstruction efforts in the northeastern Evros region and central Thessaly region, which suffered wildfires and floods this summer, Mitsotakis argued that the climate crisis played a significant role in the occurrence of severe natural disasters in Greece during the summer months.

"Unfortunately, the Mediterranean, which is at the heart of the climate crisis, is being particularly tested. Many scientists warn us that in the Mediterranean we must expect an increase in water temperature of 2 Celsius on average over the next 15 years," he said.

Mitsotakis pointed out that the risk of tropical storms similar to the ones experienced by the country this summer is on the rise, as they are primarily fueled by the warmer waters of the Mediterranean.

The Greek Prime Minister also said that addressing the climate crisis requires not only global cooperation but also consensus within Greek politics to implement swift and effective measures.