"EU Takes Action: New Firefighting Planes Acquired to Combat Worsening Climate Crises"
The European Union (EU) plans to purchase up to 12 firefighting planes this year to enhance its firefighting capabilities in response to climate change-induced wildfires. The EU currently leases 28 aircraft from member states or the market, but the increasing risk of severe blazes necessitates the acquisition of its own fleet. The EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, aims to have the first planes delivered within two years and the entire fleet operational by the end of the decade. De Havilland Canada has agreed to restart production of the "Canadair" aircraft if the EU places orders. The EU will finance the purchase of its own fleet, while member states will fund their own planes. The move comes as Europe faces another summer of extreme weather, with wildfires in Greece and Italy causing significant damage.