PARIS, April 5 (Xinhua) -- French Minister of Ecology Transition Francois de Rugy on Friday warned that the risk of wildfires remained high this year due to longer period of drought and rising temperatures prompted by climate change.
Speaking to France Bleu radio, de Rugy expressed fears that expected dry and hot weather in the coming months would trigger "higher risk of wildfires."
"There is a rise in temperatures, warmer seasons and prolonged periods of drought even in winter season," the minister said.
"Climate change is making floods and wildfires more violent and more frequent. There is still a need to protect oneself through precautionary measures and behaviors," he added.
In July 2017, fierce flames ravaged forests in southeastern districts, the country's second main tourism destination after the capital Paris. They had consumed 10,000 hectares, twice the annual average over a decade due to dry and hot summer season.
Green activists have warned that wildfires can be expected in the future as summers become hotter and drier due to global warming, if nothing is done to curb greenhouse-gas emissions.
In December 2015, the 196 Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change adopted the Paris Agreement which sets a target of holding the global average rise in temperature below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and preferably below 1.5 degrees.
On the basis of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, developed countries agreed to raise 100 billion U.S. dollars a year by 2020 to help developing countries transform their economies.
