Climate-related economic losses

Greece is facing increasing economic losses due to climate-related natural disasters, including wildfires, floods and heatwaves. In 2023, weather- and climate-related hazards caused EUR 26.821 million in damages, impacting agriculture, tourism and housing. 2023 was also the worst year on record for weather- and climate-related hazards, with 14 major fires affecting more than 1 300 hectares. Resilience efforts, such as early warning systems, reforestation and firebreaks, are being implemented, and partnerships with insurance companies are expanding to provide climate risk coverage. Climate events also reduce productivity due to health impacts from poor air quality and extreme temperatures. Supported by EU funding, Greece is investing in adaptation strategies, including flood control and heat-resilient urban planning. However, more is needed to protect vulnerable areas as extreme events continue to increase. Several programmes, such as LIFE-IP AdaptInGR, are in progress, aiming to implement the Greek national adaptation strategy and the 13 regional adaptation action plans for the current adaptation policy cycle (2016–2025).