European Parliament
Gutiérrez-Cortines (PPE-DE ).
(ES)
Mr President, I want to talk about climate change, but above all about the report of the European Environment Agency, which two months ago published a prognosis for the future and points out that the areas at greatest risk, the areas which are going to suffer most as a result of climate change, are the Mediterranean areas.
I believe it is very serious that this has not so far been said out loud. I believe it is essential to insist that the Mediterranean areas are going to suffer most from the increase in temperature, with the extremely serious risks to health that entails; they are going to suffer most from lack of water, from lack of rainfall; from an increase in desertification, from the advance of the desert; from a decrease in productivity. Furthermore, these areas are receiving immigration based on suffering, misery and hunger. It is our duty to help them.
I would call on Europe to opt clearly for strategies to combat desertification and a policy for adapting to climate change, as recommended by the Agency. We must produce adaptable policies, as required by sustainable development. We need integrated strategies and much more in-depth studies and research into the problems we are facing.
The United Nations Organisation, which has implemented a process of combating the desertification of Europe, has said almost nothing. I am therefore calling for a Mediterranean policy, a policy fundamentally of social balance and a more active policy for the future.

