European Commission Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera launched a fierce attack against climate deniers, accusing politicians who dismiss the link between global warming and Europe's devastating wildfires of "lying to people" and putting lives at risk.
"We have lots of new parliamentarians in the European Parliament, political families and national politicians who are very vocal against climate science and climate action. This is dangerous, they are lying to people," Ribera told Euronews in an exclusive interview.
As deadly wildfires rage across Spain, France and Greece, Ribera warned that climate scepticism is undermining Europe's ability to prepare for increasingly destructive disasters. Speaking from Madrid, which has been badly impacted, she compared denying the role of climate change in wildfires to giving alcohol to alcoholics.
"The closest example would be someone in public office saying you can drink as much whiskey as you want and then drive because road accidents have nothing to do with alcohol, only with the condition of the road or the car," she said. "This is stupid."
Ribera dismissed claims that the fires are simply part of Europe's season cycle, arguing instead that climate change is creating "new types of wildfires" that are more intense and increasingly threaten communities, infrastructure, wildlife and human lives.
