marseille Fire & Climate Change: calls for Action & European Preparedness
This article from RTS (Swiss Radio adn Television) reports on the recent fires in Marseille, France, and the growing concern that such events are becoming more frequent due to climate change. Here’s a summary of the key points:
Increasing Frequency of Disasters: Marseille’s mayor, Benoît Payan, views the recent fire (which was brought under control on Wednesday) as a “climate alarm signal” and believes these types of disasters are no longer isolated incidents but a developing reality. He points to both floods and fires as evidence.
Call for Climate Change Acceptance: Payan strongly criticizes climate change denial, urging those in power to acknowledge the changing climate.
Fire Statistics: The fire impacted 750 hectares and destroyed 10 homes (link provided to a related RTS article for more details).
European level Response: MEP Grégory Allione (Renew Europe, former head of the National Federation of Firefighters) is calling for a European-level response to combat climate change denial and improve preparedness.
Prevention is Key: Allione emphasizes that “Preparing will always cost less than repairing” and advocates for:
A European fleet of water bombers.
* A European directive to support and engage citizen volunteers (as over 80% of firefighters are volunteers).
The article highlights a growing sense of urgency and a shift in perspective – from viewing disasters as exceptions to recognizing them as a potential new normal driven by climate change. It emphasizes the need for both acknowledging the problem and proactively investing in preventative measures at both the national and European levels.