OUR Hellas she is a champion violations of European environmental law, while there is a serious lack of political will, transparency and public administration in the field of environmental policy, and especially in relation to the country’s path towards climate neutrality and environmental sustainability. This is stated in his report. WWF Greece titled “Policy and Institutional Gaps in Climate Neutrality,” which was released on Monday to coincide with the launch of UN climate change conference in Egypt (COP27) and at a time when Europe is heavily dependent on fossil fuels. WWF Greece fixes the difficulties, but also makes suggestions to overcome them.

“It is worrying that Greece ranks first in violations of EU environmental law, according to annual data released by the European Commission. It just shows that the problems are not localized. The mechanism of the country’s environmental legislation is lagging behind, and the way environmental legislation is implemented has persistent serious problems. This discovery makes us very worried about the future.” notes Theodotos to Nantza in “K”.Head of Politics at WWF Greece.

An example is the “disappearance” of environmental inspectors. “We don’t see them anywhere. Obviously, they are much less than in the past, when they made annual reports, published data, conclusions, etc. The report should be submitted for 2019. However, there is a serious deficit in the actions of environmental inspectors related to the implementation of the law. Who will control the industry if it complies with the rules? Mrs. Natsu emphasizes. Of particular concern, the report notes, is the country’s increasing dependence on natural (mineral) gas. “Although the recent energy crisis in Europe has debunked the myth of fossil gas as an abundant fuel that will safely and cheaply serve the transition to climate neutrality,” “There is no timetable for limiting and permanently phasing out fossil gas use, as was set in 2028 for lignite. There is a horizon of 2050, but it’s far away. Instead, we see that new fossil gas plants and related infrastructure – where is it all going?

Adding to the concern is the fact that Greece, after a large reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 due to the pandemic, returned in 2021 with a gain that significantly offset the previous year’s fall. For the same reason, WWF considers “it is unjustified (energetically, economically and geopolitically) for the country to plunge into long-term dependence on contracts with oil companies for the extraction of hydrocarbons with preferential environmental license terms.”

Natura 2000 territories

In addition, the environmental organization notes that “despite the condemnation by the EU Court of Justice, in 2020 Greece continues to refuse Natura 2000 territories without protection orders, unnecessarily delaying the completion of special environmental studies that, with the help of scientific data, will indicate the appropriate conservation of the measure.”

Regarding the necessary measures from now on, WWF Greece notes, among other things:

• Updating the National Energy and Climate Plan (ESEK) with a clear goal of phasing out fossil gas and guiding the country away from hydrocarbon exploration and development contracts with oil companies.

• Establishment of a robust system of environmental inspections led by an independent environmental and climate authority.

• Review on an annual basis the progress of carbon emissions and links to economic policy. Proposal to link “carbon budgets” to the annual cycle of the state budget. Public investment must be integrated into climate policy, as should financial sector oversight.

• Of particular importance is the completion of spatial planning with strong institutional protection of critical ecosystems that offer a solution to the problem of increased risk of climate disasters, the abolition of especially dangerous buildings that are not currently planned. Measures to conserve all Natura 2000 areas without further deterioration of legislation and loss of environmental achievements.

• “We want the development of renewable energy with the participation of society and without negative consequences for biodiversity,” emphasizes Ms. Nansou, noting that “today there are several problems in how renewable energy and especially wind energy are introduced”. WWF is talking about “creating a foundation for socially inclusive and environmentally sound renewable development” and will announce a special proposal for a law on the proper placement of renewables in the coming days.

• Finally, the proposal to create a national climate assembly, “a public body that will play a special role in the decision-making process regarding the environment and climate change”, is original. We are not talking about a decorative role, nor about representation through bodies. Citizens can be selected through a lottery,” Ms. Nancu notes.