Amsterdam, Netherlands – Reacting to a rapid analysis by World Weather Attribution[1] that found killer floods and rainfall in Central Europe earlier this month were made twice as likely by climate change induced by fossil fuel warming,<\/p>\n\n
Ian Duff, Head of Greenpeace International\u2019s <\/strong>Stop Drilling Start Paying campaign<\/strong><\/a> said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n \u201cWe must be clear about who is the victim and who is the villain in the historic floods across Central and Eastern Europe. Oil and gas companies like Total, Shell, and OMV made extraordinary profits through climate heating emissions, while ordinary citizens from Vienna to Warsaw and across the EU are expected to pick up the bill for the damages. Greenpeace calls on Europe\u2019s leaders to stand with their people and not with the oil and gas lobby and force climate polluters to pay for these historic damages.\u201d <\/p>\n\n Costs resulting from these floods \u2013 from damages to public infrastructure, to loss of working days, destroyed homes, appliances and cars \u2013 may impact national budgets and medium-term inflation.[2] Austria\u2019s insurance companies estimate that damages might hit \u20ac1 billion. Poland\u2019s government already pledged immediate aid that is \u201cfree and non-repayable\u201d of 2 billion zloty (\u20ac468 million) for families and home renovations.[3] Romania\u2019s government already allocated 100 million RON (\u20ac20 million) to affected households, where poorer communities are largely uninsured.[4] Current estimates of economic impacts may rise significantly. <\/p>\n\n ENDS<\/p>\n\n Notes:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n [1] Rapid analysis<\/a> by World Weather Attribution<\/a><\/p>\n\n [2] Recent flooding may affect Czech budget and inflation<\/a><\/p>\n\n [3] Poland\u2019s government<\/a> already pledged immediate aid<\/p>\n\n [4] Romania\u2019s government<\/a> already allocated 100 million RON (\u20ac20 million)<\/p>\n\n Contacts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Reka Hunyadi, Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe, Regional Head of Communications reka.hunyadi@greenpeace.org<\/a> <\/p>\n\n Tal Harris, Greenpeace International, Global Media Lead \u2013 Stop Drilling Start Paying campaign, tharris@greenpeace.org<\/a> <\/p>\n\n
The World Weather Attribution study warns that floods, in which 24 people lost their lives, will become more destructive with further fossil fuel warming and highlights the accelerating costs of climate change after the European Union pledged \u20ac10 billion for flood repairs. <\/p>\n\n