Climate change mitigation - National Responses (Greece)

Greece’s climate change policy, strategy and programme plans are set out in the National Climate Change Programme’. The First National Programme was adopted in 1995, the Second in 2002 and revised in 2007. All three iterations placed heavy emphasis on achieving GHG emission reductions commitments by: changing the fuel mix to include a higher percentage of natural gas and renewable energy sources; improving energy efficiency and conservation in all sectors; effecting structural changes in agriculture and transportation; reducing emissions in waste management; and (to serve longer-term needs) expanding research and development efforts.

Greece participates in the EU emission trading scheme (ETS) for CO₂, which has been operational since 2005. In 2006, a Bureau for GHG Emissions Trading was set up within YPEHODE, and the National Centre for the Environment and Sustainable Development was assigned responsibility for the management of the national registry. Despite the relatively low CO₂ allowances prices, the EU ETS has stimulated the Public Power Corporation (PPC) to undertake large-scale efficiency improvement programmes at lignite-fired power stations.

References

• IEA, 2006. International Energy Agency - Energy Policy of IEA Countries: Greece, Paris.
  http://www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/2006/greece2006.pdf
  
• 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