AUSTRIA: Greek President calls for European action on climate crisis at Alpbach Forum

The President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou stressed the need for Europe to deal with the challenges of the current climate crisis as a matter of priority, during her address at the European Forum Alpbach (EFA) in Austria on Tuesday.

Fighting climate change requires "a holistic approach focused on the idea of viable development, and a great reversal of our way of life."

An approach that must involve young people, and solidarity, which was recently exemplified by the way EU member states came to help Greece fight the fires, added the Greek President.

"Europe must fight for the values it represents within and without its borders," she noted, citing populism and its rejection of fundamental European values.

"Our hearts these days are in Afghanistan, particularly its women and girls who are being targeted solely because they want to live and dress freely, to educate themselves, and to work."

Sakellaropoulou urged the European Union and the international community to take action to ensure the lives of Afghanistan's citizens and its cultural heritage are protected, as they are currently in great danger.

According to its site, EFA is "a platform that drives ideas for an empowered and democratic Europe. It brings together young people, leading scholars, thinkers, scientists, policy makers, business people and civil society actors from Europe and from all over the world to engage and contribute to its mission of shaping a stronger Europe."

This year's forum posed three questions: How can we secure Europe's Future? How can we finance Europe? and, Can the climate crisis be an opportunity to rethink Europe?

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