The European Union wants to launch a day of remembrance for the “victims of climate change”.
“Today we remember the loss of life due to erratic weather conditions, there are deaths almost daily in the world. It is time to pay a little more attention to these victims,” said Frans Timmermans, vice president of the European Executive, on his arrival at a meeting of EU environment ministers in Prague.
“Commemorating the victims of the climate crisis”
He recalled the approximately 220 deaths in July 2021, following floods caused by torrential rains in Germany and Belgium, but also the six deaths from a tornado in the Czech Republic in June 2021.
As Europe is hit by a heat wave and massive fires, European Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius paid tribute on Wednesday night to the victims of a helicopter crash in Greece who were involved in fighting a wildfire. .
“It would be nice to have at least one day a year in Europe to commemorate the victims of catastrophic weather conditions caused by the climate crisis,” said Frans Timmermans.
Moved to tears, he spoke of the death of a colleague’s 15-year-old daughter, swept away last year in the Belgian Ardennes.
The proposal was presented on Thursday to the environment ministers of the Twenty-seven, before discussion with the member states.
Source: BFM TV
