Geneva, Switzerland, July 15, 2026 (Lusa) - The UN Executive Secretary for Climate Change on Wednesday expressed his regret at the human cost of the forest fires currently affecting Spain and Portugal, emphasising that the number of disasters caused by climate change is on the rise.
“Lives lost, families displaced, homes and businesses destroyed, and communities watching parts of their natural and cultural heritage go up in flames,” lamented Simon Stiell.
In his view, the recent “devastating fires” are part of a “global trend of climate change-driven disasters that are becoming more severe and frequent with each passing year”.
The scale of the problem has grown “as humanity continues to burn vast quantities of coal, oil and gas, which is warming the planet”, he explained.
For Stiell, the solutions are clear.
“We must act now to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy and climate resilience, and to protect forests,” he argued.
The UN believes that the transition “is already underway, but needs to be accelerated”.
“Clean energy not only protects our climate, but also strengthens economies, creates more jobs, works, improves energy security and is cheaper and more reliable than fossil fuels,” concluded Stiell.
In recent weeks, the Iberian Peninsula has faced several extreme heatwaves with temperatures exceeding 40°C, leading to one of the most severe wildfire crises in recent times.
The situation required the immediate activation of the European Civil Protection Mechanism, prompting a joint effort involving cross-border operations to contain the flames.
In Portugal, the worst and most destructive fire broke out on 2 July in Vouzela, in the northern region of Viseu, consuming more than 15,000 hectares in just three days.
On the Spanish side, the most critical and tragic outbreak occurred in the province of Almería, in the region of Andalusia, where a fire, fuelled by strong winds, raged fiercely, causing the deaths of at least 13 people and consuming around 7,000 hectares of land.
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