European Green Party Co-Chair Vula Tsetsi said: “As Europe endures record temperatures, the European People’s Party and the far right are still trying to roll back the Green Deal. You cannot claim to care about people’s safety while dismantling the laws that protect them from extreme weather events, such as the Nature Restoration Law, or forest protection regulation.
Heatwaves are becoming a major public health threat, and once again it is the most vulnerable who pay the highest price. Older people, outdoor workers, low-income households and those living in poorly insulated homes face the greatest risks. Climate change deepens inequalities.
While citizens bear the cost in the form of worsening health risks, heat-related deaths and climate disasters, the political right continues to prioritise the demands of fossil fuel and corporate lobbies over the public interest. The science is clear. The consequences are visible. The excuses have run out.”
European Green Party Co-Chair Ciarán Cuffe said: "Heatwaves are silent killers. They put lives at risk and overwhelm health systems. Record June temperatures across Europe are another warning that climate change is making extreme heat more frequent and more severe. The science is clear: these events are becoming more frequent, more intense and longer lasting.
Their impacts are deeply unequal. Urban areas trap heat, while low-income households often lack access to cooling or live in poorly insulated housing. Cities must provide cooling centres during these periods of extreme heat, and ensure access to those most at risk.
Outdoor workers and vulnerable communities are increasingly exposed to dangerous conditions, highlighting the urgent need to link climate action with social protection. Europe must step up its efforts to cut emissions, invest in climate-resilient cities and natural cooling, and better protect those most exposed. Climate action is essential to protect people's health, workers’ livelihoods and the planet’s future."
