Air pollution - National Responses (Greece)

Ambient air quality target and limit values have been revised on the basis of the EU Air Quality Framework Directive (96/62/EC) and related daughter directives. Greece needs to adjust the national legislation to include limits on fine particles (EU air quality directive 2008/50/EC). The policy goals and main measures derived from the 2002 National Sustainable Development Strategy are as follows:

• Implementation of energy conservation programmes and application of more energy efficient technologies in power plants and industries;
• Implementation of Best Available Techniques and BREFs, according to IPPC Directive;
•  Further promotion of natural gas (in industry, power supply and residential sector) and renewable sources (e.g. solar energy);
• Further promotion of cleaner fuels (in terms of sulphur and lead contents) in industry and households;
•  Reduction of SOx emissions (from lignite‑fired power plants), NMVOC emissions (from refineries) and NOx emissions (from transport);
• Enforcement of air‑related regulations through strengthened field inspections;
• Expansion of the ambient air monitoring network, harmonisation of measurement methods between stations and expansion of the list of pollutants monitored (PM_2.5, PAHs, heavy metals);
• Development and introduction of measures to reduce emissions from transport;
• Further development of economic instruments to integrate air management objectives into energy and transport policies.

References

• MINENV, 2009. Climate Change: GHG Emissions projections – policies and mesures, May 2009.
  http://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/gr/eu/ghgmm/envsg1jtq/20090515_Resubmission_of_GHG_Projections_and_PAMS_May_2009.pdf

• NCESD, 2009 - National Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development. Greece: State of the Environment Report 2008, edited by Sani Dimitroulopoulou (in Greek, with English Summary). ISBN 978-960-99033-0-1.
  http://www.ekpaa.greekregistry.eu/images/stories/EKTHESI_2008.pdf

• NSSG, 2009 – National Statistical Service of Greece.
  http://www.statistics.gr