EU crisis chief calls for stronger climate action as France and Spain face wildfires

Hadja Lahbib, the senior climate policy adviser for the national Ministry of the Environment, urged the government on Tuesday to fast‑track existing climate‑resilience initiatives and allocate additional funding as an unprecedented heatwave sweeps across the country. The meteorological service has issued heat alerts for the next ten days, with temperatures projected to exceed 40 °C in several regions, prompting concerns over public health, water scarcity and strain on the power grid.

Lahbib emphasized that the current adaptation roadmap—covering urban greening, upgraded cooling infrastructure in schools and hospitals, and expanded water‑conservation programs—must be implemented ahead of schedule to mitigate the imminent risks. She called for a 20 % increase in the climate‑investment budget to accelerate these measures, citing recent studies that link delayed action to higher mortality rates and economic losses during extreme heat events. The ministry is expected to review the proposal in the upcoming parliamentary session, with officials indicating that budgetary adjustments could be made before the end of the fiscal year.