COPENHAGEN, 6 February 2026 – In response to extreme weather events across Europe, most recently seen in the severe storms battering parts of Spain and Portugal with torrential rainfall leading to tragic loss of life, infrastructure damage and extensive power outages, OSCE PA Special Representative on Climate Change Ainur Argynbekova (Kazakhstan) issued the following statement:
“The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly expresses its deepest condolences to all those affected and stands in solidarity with the communities facing these devastating events.
Extreme weather events are not isolated incidents. They reflect a broader global trend identified by the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026 as the top long-term threat to societies today. Climate change acts as a systemic risk multiplier, amplifying vulnerabilities across security, economic, and social domains. Science confirms that climate change increases the frequency and intensity of storms, floods, heatwaves, and other extremes, with far-reaching consequences for energy systems, food and water security, emergency services, and social equity.
Recent international discussions, including COP30 in Belém, Brazil, emphasized that responding to climate risks requires not only reducing emissions but also accelerating adaptation. The impact of successive storms across Iberia is a powerful reminder that climate change is reshaping the risks we all face, underscoring the need to act with urgency and co-operation to strengthen our resilience and adapt to the realities of a warming world.
Parliamentarians have a critical role in translating climate commitments into concrete laws, and co-operative frameworks. Strong legislative leadership is essential to protect lives, livelihoods, and the stability of communities across the OSCE region. The OSCE PA reaffirms its commitment to integrating climate and security considerations across all areas of its work and to fostering co-operative, inclusive action that builds resilience and shared prosperity.”
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