Green transition - Climate Change
The European Union aspires to continue playing a leading role in tackling environmental issues, at a global level. With its ambitious climate change policies, the EU significantly contributed to the conclusion of the negotiations that led to the Paris Agreement (COP 21 - 12.12.2015).
In implementing the Union’s commitments in the framework of the Paris Agreement, the European leaders reached, during the European Council of 11th – 12th December 2020, an agreement on the climate target, namely the reduction of emissions by no less than 55% - in comparison to 1990- until 2030, setting as their long-term the climate neutrality by 2050. Transitional technologies -especially natural gas- are included as a means for the achievement of this aim. An agreement was also reached that the different starting points and the local particularities of all member-states, especially islands, would be taken into consideration.
In February 2021, the European Commission adopted the new EU Climate Change Strategy, aiming at addressing its consequences. The implementation of this strategy lies with the sectoral legislation package "Fit for 55"on the one hand and the European Climate Law (2021). The “Fit for 55” measures adopted in July 2021 include, inter alia, the amendment of the Emissions Trading System (ETS), including sea and air transport, the imposition of a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the implementation of the Regulation on the Allocation of Efforts(ESR) 2021-2030. Likewise, the aim of the European Climate Law (ECL) is the legalization of the provisions of the European Green Deal (Green Deal), with the aim of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Equally important are the legislative proposals presented, in March 2023 by the European Commission for the implementation of the Green Agreement, namely the Green Deal Industrial Plan, the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA), which aims to strengthen the industrial competitiveness of the EU, and the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), which ensure access to critical raw materials, vital for the manufacture of net zero technologies and products.
On 18.04.2023, the European Parliament approved the agreements reached at the end of 2022 between its negotiators and the representatives of the EU countries regarding a series of important legislative acts in the context of the ambitious goals that the EU has set in the «Fit for 55» package for 2030. Furthermore, on 12.07.2023, the European Parliament adopted a position on the emblematic EU Nature Restoration Law, which provides measures for nature restoration until 2030, covering at least 20% of all land and sea areas in the EU.
Greece wishes to strengthen the leading role of the EU in the fight against climate change, embracing the ambition for the goals set. At the same time, our country is in favour of reviewing certain proposals of the European Commission, in order to ensure that the guiding principles of the EU structure will be applied, namely the principle of convergence through solidarity and cohesion of the member states and respect for their different characteristics and starting points.
Given the country's particular geographical features Greece attributes special care for its islands. In this framework, our country has implemented various programs regarding green transition, the development of Renewable Energy Sources, the protection of biodiversity,the improvement of connectivity in a large number of island areas (e.g. Astypalea, Tilos). These endeavours serve as models for various programs at European level.
In addition, Greece attaches particular importance to the protection of the Mediterranean, contributing to addressing the multidimensional regional challenges of climate change, reduction of biodiversity as well as land and sea pollution. It also considers it important to support the transition of the Mediterranean countries to the circular economy, in order to promote a fair and sustainable development. In this context, Greece has always supported the protection of the marine environment from waste originating from land and sea sources, as well as the adoption of policies for their elimination.
You may find more information on the following links:
European Climate Law: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/EN/legal-content/summary/european-climate-law.html
-Fit for 55:https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_21_3541
-Net Zero Industry Act:https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/industry/sustainability/net-zero-industry-act_en
-Critical Raw Materials Act: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_1661
-ΕU Nature Restoration Law: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/nature-restoration-law_en