On Monday February 26, 2024, a meeting was held on Greece's Adaptation to Climate Change organized by the Academy of Athens, with the Regions of Greece invited, in the context of the LIFE-IP AdaptInGR Project, which is being prepared in collaboration between Agencies and the Ministry of Environment and Energy.
The Meeting was greeted by the President of the Academy of Athens, Academician Mr. Stamatis Krimizis, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Thodoros Skylakakis, the General Secretary of Natural Environment and Waters of the Greek Ministry of Environment, Mr. Petros Varelidis, the President of the Union Regions of Greece and Central Macedonia, Mr. Apostolos Tzitzikostas (with a recorded message) and the Region of Thessaly, Mr. Dimitris Kouretas (with a written message).
The Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Thodoros Skylakakis, underlined that Greece forests - which increased significantly from the 19th century onwards - are a contribution of our country to tackling the climate crisis. The new climate that we are already facing - as he pointed out - is characterized by great uncertainty and by an increase in extreme weather phenomena, above all by floods and heat waves, for which the entire planet is not ready. And to respond to the green transition and the ever-increasing pressure of climate adaptation will require significant resources, at a time when geopolitical developments at the international level also require large military expenditures. The Minister of Environment and Energy pointed out that in Greece we have started earlier - than in other states - to examine how exactly the adaptation to climate change will take place. He noted, in fact, that in a few days a bill will be submitted to the Parliament, which includes - among other things - provisions for the forestry reform, but also for how we will build with greater resilience in terms of extreme climate phenomena. Finally, he talked about an important study that the Ministry of Environment and Energy is starting, with the Academy of Athens and in collaboration with international institutions, which study will allow the best possible forecast of climate phenomena, per Region.
The General Secretary of Natural Environment and Water Mr. Petros Varelidis highlighted the important effort that has begun with the collaboration of experts from the Academy of Athens, the Universities and the National Observatory of Athens to carry out the LIFE-IP AdaptInGR program, which today constitutes the most important national project for Greece adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis.
The Secretary General of the Academy of Athens and National Spokesperson for Climate Change, Professor Mr. Christos Zerefos, presented the keynote speech, in which he described the importance of the required adaptation actions to the Climate Crisis which will have a significant economic benefit and will shield our country against the evolving climate crisis. The General Secretary emphasized that the reason for the invitation to hold today's meeting was the inter-regional cooperation in critical but also different sectors from different Regions with the scientific contribution of the Academy of Athens. He also pointed out that the correct interregional implementation of adaptation to the Climate Crisis can reduce the economic and environmental costs of the crisis by about half.
This was followed by the presentation of the contribution of the LIFE-IP AdaptInGR project by the executive of the Ministry of Health and coordinator of the LIFE-IP AdaptInGR project, Mrs. Ioanna Tsalakanidou.
The Regional Governor of the North Aegean, Mr. Konstantinos Moutzouris, the Regional Governor of Peloponnese, Mr. Dimitrios Ptochos, the Deputy Regional Governor of Attica, Mrs. Christina Kefalogianni, the Vice-Regional Governor for Sustainable Development and Environment of the Western Greece Region, Mr. Linos Bletsas, the Scientific Advisor participated in the Working Meeting of the Regional Governor of Central Macedonia Mrs. Gianna Panagopoulou and the Deputy Regional Governor of Environment of Crete, Mr. Nikolaos Xylouris.
In the context of the Meeting, there was a discussion on the need to adapt the Regions of the country to the Climate Crisis and an exchange of views regarding the challenges in the implementation of the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Plans. It was emphasized that adaptation plans, needs and their monitoring differ from Region to Region, due to different local conditions and infrastructures. Also, the need for faster adaptation to the Climate Crisis and improvement in informing the residents about the necessary measures to protect the population and the State through the EPAs was underlined. During the discussion it became clear that the protection of the country from the economic, environmental and social effects of the climate crisis is a matter of major importance and is a matter of education and proper information of the population. Finally, the importance of good practices was highlighted, such as the need to protect the peri-urban ecosystem, which requires the close cooperation of all levels of Administration, both with each other and with the Scientific Community and the proper management of coasts, ports, water resources and all kinds of land improvement projects with the necessary adaptation to the new data imposed by the Climate Crisis.