EU’s Competition Chief Ribera Slams Climate Deniers: ‘They Are Lying’ as Wildfires Rage
Usagevpn.com – European Commission Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera, serving as the EU’s competition chief, has issued a powerful condemnation of climate deniers, accusing politicians who downplay the connection between global warming and Europe’s catastrophic wildfires of deliberately misleading the public. In a candid interview with Euronews, Ribera emphasized that dismissing climate science poses a direct threat to European citizens. “We have lots of new parliamentarians in the European Parliament, political families and national politicians who are very vocal against climate science and climate action. This is dangerous, they are lying to people,” Ribera stated firmly during the exclusive conversation.
Climate Skepticism Undermines Disaster Preparedness
As devastating wildfires continue to burn across Spain, France, and Greece, Ribera cautioned that climate skepticism is severely weakening Europe’s capacity to anticipate and respond to increasingly severe environmental disasters. Addressing reporters from Madrid—a city that has suffered considerable damage—she drew a compelling parallel between climate denial and enabling harmful behavior. “The closest example would be someone in public office saying you can drink as much whiskey as you want and then drive because road accidents have nothing to do with alcohol, only with the condition of the road or the car,” she explained. “This is stupid.”
Ribera rejected assertions that the current fire season represents merely a normal cyclical pattern for Europe. Instead, she argued that climate change is generating “new types of wildfires” characterized by greater intensity and broader geographic reach, endangering communities, critical infrastructure, wildlife populations, and human lives alike. “This is just dangerous,” she reiterated to Euronews. The urgency of the situation was underscored by recent data showing more than 10,000 excess deaths recorded across Europe during late June’s extreme heatwaves.
Political Tensions Over Climate Policy Direction
The Spanish commissioner, who holds responsibility for overseeing the EU’s clean, just, and competitive transition, delivered her remarks at a politically delicate juncture in Brussels. Over the preceding twelve months, the EU’s political priorities have gradually shifted away from its once ambitious climate legislation—the defining achievement of Ursula von der Leyen’s first-term European Green Deal—toward competitiveness, industrial policy, and reducing regulatory burdens for businesses. Multiple governments and political factions have pressed Brussels to relax environmental regulations even further, contending that such measures are essential for maintaining competitiveness against economic powerhouses like the United States and China.
Among the proposed adjustments are modifications to the bloc’s methane regulations, which mandate that oil and gas producers reduce and monitor their emissions, alongside revisions to the nature restoration law, widely regarded as vital for safeguarding forests and peatlands. Ribera, however, cautioned against retreating from the EU’s climate commitments. She argued that Europe cannot address one of its most severe wildfire seasons by dismantling the very policies engineered to diminish climate risks.
While acknowledging that certain regulations could benefit from simplification, Ribera maintained that abandoning the foundational principles of the Green Deal would constitute a significant error. “Providing the right answer is not just getting rid of everything that has been building these green roots to keep on building prosperity,” Ribera concluded, reinforcing her position that the EU’s competition chief must balance economic concerns with environmental responsibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Teresa Ribera and what is her role in the EU? Teresa Ribera is the European Commission Executive Vice-President and serves as the EU’s competition chief, overseeing the bloc’s clean, just, and competitive transition.
What did Ribera say about climate deniers? Ribera accused politicians who dismiss the link between global warming and Europe’s wildfires of “lying to people” and putting lives at risk by undermining climate science.
Which European countries are experiencing wildfires? Spain, France, and Greece are currently facing devastating wildfires, with Madrid being particularly hard hit.
How many excess deaths were recorded during the heatwaves? More than 10,000 excess deaths were recorded across Europe during late June’s extreme heatwaves.
What policies might be affected by the current political shift? The EU’s methane rules and the nature restoration law are among the policies under consideration for potential modifications.
