We're not dangerous climate-change deniers - Meloni

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 15 - Premier Giorgia Meloni said Wednesday that her government did not deny the reality of climate change, but wanted a "pragmatic approach" to achieving sustainability, in a question time session in the Lower House.
    She said that the EU directive on Green homes "risks damaging Italy", arguing it was "unreasonable" as it would require work to boost the energy efficiency of millions of Italian home in the next 10 years and that a "gradual approach" was needed.
    "The Italian people have not chosen a government made up of dangerous climate deniers," said Meloni, whose executive is also opposed to the EU's proposed end to the sale of carbon-emitting petrol and diesel cars from 2035.
    "We believe that, in respecting the international commitments made on the reduction of climate-changing emissions, a pragmatic approach should be taken, not an ideological one.
    "Environmental sustainability must not be separated from economic and social sustainability," she added in answering a question from Angelo Bonelli of the Green-Left (AVS) group about the government's strategy to hit its climate targets.
    "We have implemented a series of actions - from the decree on energy communities to the launch of a task-force on the water (scarcity) crisis.
    "The government considers natural gas a vector towards transition and a vector for greater autonomy". (ANSA).