Teresa Ribera, the European Commission's executive vice-president for a clean, just and competitive transition, stated that record European heatwaves are a direct consequence of climate inaction and called for accelerated climate action. Ribera urged resistance against fossil fuel interests.

Germany, Czechia, Poland, and Hungary reached temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday, June 29, 2025. Ukraine's energy grid experienced temperatures exceeding 36 degrees Celsius on Monday, June 30, 2025. The World Health Organisation stated that the early summer heatwave was responsible for more than 1,300 excess deaths.

Ribera stated, "This is a dramatic warning being sent once again by nature on what it means to have a different climate system." She added, "What we are experiencing today [in the form of record heat] is what we knew could happen, but we have not been smart enough to address the root causes." Ribera said, "There is still this fierce fight against facts, science, preparedness, and investment [in clean energy], so we are failing people."

Ribera criticized narratives based on falsehoods, stating, "We need to reject this kind of bullshit based on lies, and against people's interests." She dismissed claims that public support for the Green Deal had diminished, saying, "I am tired of hearing 'people don't back the green deal any more'... it is not true." Ribera said, "People prefer breathing clean air, or counting on a healthy ecosystem, than having polluted water, no capacity to ensure crops and harvests, and [heat that means] a city becomes not liveable."

She warned, "We cannot allow people manipulating and targeting climate action just to hide the vested interests that may gain in the short term incredible profits for a few, [while] betraying the whole of humankind." Ribera also noted, "When people speak about competitiveness, we cannot think of a competitive industry in Europe if we need to rely on something we do not produce, which is fossil fuels." Ribera served as the environment minister of Spain from 2018 to 2024.

Ribera said, "[We had to] change the economics to ensure that the whole transformation was anchored in opportunities for people," citing her previous work where "the first thing was to face down coal." She stated, "This is why it's so important that Europe succeeds: a failure or derailment could mean so many other people in the world thinking, 'OK, that was an illusion, it does not deliver'." Ribera concluded, "So we need to resist these demands to slow down, accept fossil fuels for longer – it's not going to help at all. We have a great opportunity to keep building and accelerating the change, and build resilience to be prepared for a hotter, drier or more risky reality."

Ribera called on datacentre developers to reduce their impact on water resources and energy supplies. She said, "If we want to avoid clashes with local communities, it's good to follow this advice [voluntarily], before it becomes a rejection."

Why It Matters

Europe has experienced record heatwaves, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in multiple nations and over 36 degrees Celsius affecting Ukraine's energy grid. These extreme temperatures have led to operational disruptions, including the closure of schools and tourist attractions, temporary staff dismissals, and the shutdown of some nuclear reactors. The World Health Organisation attributed over 1,300 excess deaths to these heatwaves.

Teresa Ribera, a key official within the European Commission, has publicly linked these events to climate inaction. Her statements emphasize the importance of accelerated climate action, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and resisting resistance to climate science, framing Europe's actions as critical for global efforts and long-term societal well-being.