What will the next generations think about us?

Eulogia Merle

The Mediterranean is the cradle of civilizations and historical cultures.

All of them characterized by radical thinking, ambition, mobilization and action.

This is how they promoted profound changes in humanity, generating an impact that is present in us today.

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• The UN warns that the climate crisis accelerates after the pandemic

We may now live in a very different time, but we would do well to learn lessons and draw inspiration from our history and ask ourselves the question: what will future generations think of us?

The growing climate and environmental crisis is the greatest test we all face.

Today I receive in Athens the Heads of State and Government of Croatia, Cyprus, France, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Spain, the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President of the European Commission, for the eighth meeting of the countries of the South of Europe (EUMED), where the main topic will be climate change in our region.

We meet after a summer in which many of our countries - and even many nations throughout the world - have witnessed extreme weather events.

In Greece we have witnessed record temperatures and many months of drought, which have turned the country into a powder keg.

The Mediterranean is highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change.

We are experiencing more intense heat waves, as well as drought, heavy rainfall, floods and fires.

The climate crisis is no longer an abstract concept.

It's happening.

That is why I am convinced that EUMED leaders will remain united under the strong conviction that global, urgent and ambitious action is key.

The Athens declaration that we are about to adopt marks a new commitment to clamp down on key areas.

First of all, we must reaffirm our commitment to limit the increase in global temperature to 1.5ºC and make sure that the voice of the Mediterranean is heard forcefully on the global stage, that our actions are intensified and the strength of our project common is activated in a real way.

A rapid alignment of public and private investments in risk mitigation, adopting climate neutrality and adaptation is essential.

We need to achieve unprecedented levels of collaboration and imagination.

The implementation of decarbonised and climate-resistant infrastructure must be accelerated and we must commit to working together, with the European Union, to achieve the best possible results at COP 26.

Second, with respect to biodiversity, we are observing how endemic species in the region are being threatened by degradation and loss of habitats.

That is why it is vitally important to collaborate across our borders to substantially change the situation.

Third, we need to invest in protecting our forests.

In the long term, the adverse effects of forest fires in the Mediterranean are enormous.

We are already observing how the characteristics of drainage basins change and soil erosion increases, endangering many species.

Wherever damage has occurred, we must act.

We have to promote the exchange of technology and experience for the recovery of ecosystems and the restoration of degraded areas.

Fourth, in the marine environment, important advances were made at the World Conservation Congress (IUCN) held this month in Marseille, such as the protection of 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030 and the cessation of overfishing. .

The role of the Blue Economy in achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal in the Mediterranean is crucial.

We see a pent-up demand for travel after the impact of the covid, but we must ensure that we build a sustainable tourism model.

Not measuring success by the number of tourists who visit us, but by approaching it from a much more sophisticated point of view.

We have to reduce the environmental, climate and energy footprint of our entire Blue Economy related to maritime, land and coastal activities, with the aim of making them circular.

Finally, with regard to civil protection, prevention and response to disasters, we must intensify cooperation between the Mediterranean partners.

The challenges we face share a common profile and Mediterranean countries must exchange knowledge and resources.

We also need an upgrade of the European Civil Protection Mechanism, as well as a substantial reinforcement of the RescEU in the Mediterranean by providing a European pool of resources.

As in the past, we need to begin a period of radical thinking, ambition, mobilization and action to advance the transformative progress of humanity.

EUMED, as a group of nations, must rise again for the good of our fragile planet.

We have to build a future founded on justice and equality, where people and nature can thrive.

One that will make the next generation look back with pride.

The fight to create a prosperous, equitable and sustainable future for our society is going to be difficult to win, but it is a battle we cannot afford to lose.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis

is Prime Minister of Greece.