Teresa Ribera slams climate deniers amid wildfires

Ribera, speaking from Madrid, compared the denial of climate change's role in wildfires to advising alcoholics to drink excessively, calling such arguments "stupid" and "dangerous." She emphasized that the fires are not merely part of a seasonal cycle but are indicative of climate change creating more intense and threatening wildfire conditions.

The remarks come at a politically sensitive time for the EU, as the focus has shifted from ambitious climate legislation like the European Green Deal towards competitiveness and reducing red tape. Several governments and political groups are urging Brussels to ease environmental regulations to compete with the United States and China. Measures such as watering down methane rules for oil and gas producers and the nature restoration law have been proposed.

However, Ribera warned against such rollbacks, arguing that dismantling climate policies designed to reduce risks would be a mistake. She stated that while regulation can be simplified, abandoning the foundations of the Green Deal would be detrimental to long-term prosperity.