Vigenin: It is smarter to prevent climate change damage than to compensate for it

“Europe must move from reacting to preparing for climate change, because heatwaves, droughts and extreme weather events are no longer the exception but the new reality.” This was stated by Bulgarian MEP Kristian Vigenin from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in an interview with BNT from Strasbourg on the need for more effective European policies for adapting to climate change. In his words, the increasingly frequent and prolonged heat, which is already costing lives in Europe, requires climate adaptation to become a key priority of the next European policies and budgets.

“First of all, we must realise that we have a real problem. What we are doing to fight climate change may bring some results, but we are already facing a real problem with higher temperatures and especially with summer heatwaves, which directly affect the whole continent. We can see that the heatwaves are getting longer,” the MEP said.

Funding for adaptation

Vigenin pointed out that whether or not a separate financial instrument is created, funding for climate adaptation must be included in the next European budget. In his view, the Common Agricultural Policy must put a much stronger emphasis on prevention, not only on compensating for damage: “Preparing for these phenomena, which are no longer exceptional, must be a key priority. In my view, it is far smarter not to compensate after we have lost the harvest, for example, but to take measures so that it does not happen. That is always the cheaper option and the better one for people.”

Adapting cities

In his words, cities also need to adapt to the new climate conditions with more green spaces, trees, shaded areas and infrastructure that reduces the effect of so-called heat islands. “We should not be passive observers of heatwaves that come while we simply wait for them to pass. We have to be ready for them. It is not enough to just lay new asphalt or put down new paving. We need to plan for lawns, more trees, shade and a whole set of measures to help us cope with the heat,” Vigenin recommended.

European funds for prevention

The MEP also stressed that European funds must go to measures with a real effect for people, not simply be absorbed. He also commented on the development of artificial intelligence, warning that Europe should not repeat the mistakes of the United States. “The US is very often held up as an example to us, but we can see how the lack of regulation creates a serious social and political problem. In Europe we will do things differently. Work is under way on a proposal on the energy efficiency of data centres, which will ensure that they are built with the latest technologies, use less energy and water and give off less heat. This regulation will allow us to develop artificial intelligence sustainably while keeping public trust in the technology, because any new technology that loses public trust also loses its purpose,” Kristian Vigenin believes.