ARTICLE BY THE MINISTER OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, Mr. KOSTA SKREKA

With a sense of responsibility and a steady course towards the realization of our vision, we are living through a historic moment of change for the country. As we move towards exiting the unprecedented health crisis, we are planning for the next day with key priorities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, shift to clean energy and use innovation to improve the quality of life of citizens and protect the environment. The big bet is to turn the biggest challenge of modern times, the climate crisis, into an opportunity, turning the country into a leader of sustainable development. We are moving forward with the energy transformation of Greece, with a comprehensive plan and determination, but also with important financial tools, such as the resources from the Recovery Fund and the new NSRF.

As Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, “Greece 2.0”, puts the country on a dynamic growth trajectory, mobilizing total resources of more than 57 billion. euro. At least 37% of the resources from the Recovery Fund, which corresponds to a public expenditure of 6 billion euro, will be used to finance the recovery. has been dedicated to the path to green recovery, with the energy sector playing a key role.

An indicative example is the major wave of energy efficiency upgrades in buildings that will be launched in the coming months. In the Ministry of Environment and Energy’s plan for the use of Recovery Fund resources, we have committed over 2.5 billion. euros for energy efficiency upgrades in households and public buildings, and for the first time we are launching a new “ExoEconomy” for small and medium-sized enterprises. The total capital to be mobilised, including leverage, is expected to amount to EUR 4.3 billion. euro.

We want to make a decisive contribution to the ambitious goal of making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. In this context, the first step has already been taken with the Prime Minister’s emblematic decision to move faster than any other member state of the European Union to carbonise its energy mix. We are retiring all our lignite units by 2023 except for Ptolemaida 5, which will be converted into

We will allocate €100 million to protect biodiversity. euros, mainly for the development of a network of trails to showcase the beautiful landscapes of our spectacular forests.

In addition, we have earmarked €450 million for electricity storage systems, pumped storage and batteries to maximise the penetration of renewables. In fact, following the new EU climate targets, we are carrying out studies to revise the targets of the National Energy and Climate Plan. Thus, our original forecast of 60% penetration of renewables in the energy mix by 2030 is expected to increase to 67%.

In addition, we are supporting with €300 million EUR 202 million in investments in green manufacturing and passenger shipping, while we are ensuring the sustainability of the Special Account for Renewable Energy with EUR 202 million. euros, preventing increases in electricity bills, ensuring liquidity and investment credibility.

The promotion of electromobility is central to our plan for decarbonisation. 220 million. The Recovery Fund will finance investments for the installation of 10,000 public charging stations in large municipalities, the electrification of part of the municipal fleet and the replacement of 2,000 polluting taxis with electric ones.

We intend to make effective use of the resources of the Recovery Fund to protect and enhance even further the unique natural beauty of our country. We will allocate €100 million to protect biodiversity. euros, mainly for the development of a network of trails to showcase the beautiful landscapes of our spectacular forests. We have also launched the most ambitious reforestation plan in the country, with the allocation of €224 million. euros from the Recovery Fund. The plan provides for the planting of more than 30 million trees covering 165,000 hectares. In addition, we are planning major urban regeneration projects that will change the face of our cities, improving the quality of life of our citizens, with €475 million in funding. Euro.

In the context of a new, sustainable economic model, protecting and respecting the environment must become an integral part of everyone’s culture.

Finally, we are shielding our energy system and the energy security of our islands, which welcome millions of visitors, especially during the summer months. After the Peloponnese – Crete interconnection, which is already a reality, we have launched the ^4th phase of the electrical interconnection of the Cyclades.

In the great effort to shield the country against the challenges of climate change and to transform its productive base, social consensus and citizen awareness is a key prerequisite. In the context of a new, sustainable economic model, protecting and respecting the environment must become an integral part of everyone’s culture. As the Prime Minister stressed on the occasion of World Environment Day, we have an obligation to hand over to our children an environment that is no worse than the one we received from our parents.