The need to adapt public policies to the adverse effects of the climate crisis was pointed out by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Staikouras, during his speech, today, at the 1st “Energy Save” Conference, in the context of the “Automotive – Electromobility 2023” exhibition.

Analyzing the pillars of a holistic response to the challenges, he emphasized, among other things, the promotion of electric mobility.

In particular, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport emphasized that it is necessary to take decisions, at global and national level, in order to reduce emissions, in order to slow down the evolution of climate change and at the same time, to reassess the resilience of our infrastructure, in order to we are better prepared when extreme weather events occur.

“Speed ​​is a critical parameter, because the problem exists”, stressed Mr. Staikouras, presenting the government’s framework of actions aimed at implementing the common European strategy for sustainable and smart mobility, in order to shape a less polluting transport system, the which, at the same time, will be more secure, competitive, intelligent, affordable and accessible for all.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport developed the three pillars in which the relevant actions are developed and concern: sustainable transport, with the promotion of electrification and investment in fixed-track means of transport, the introduction of intelligent transport systems that promote smart mobility and reduce environmental footprint and cost of travel, as well as the resilience of infrastructure, which relate to transport services.

Mr. Staikouras stated that the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has a fixed orientation towards the modernization of the transport system and the “green” transition, with the main criteria being economic efficiency, social reciprocity and environmental sensitivity.

The following is the full text of the speech of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Staikouras:

“The “Energy Save” Conference, with the aim of reducing the environmental footprint, brings to the fore the need to adapt public policies to the adverse effects of the climate crisis, which, as has been proven very recently, painfully in our country, are now present.

We are, therefore, faced with a new situation, which, as reality itself demonstrates and scientists and the reports of international organizations predict, concerns the increasingly frequent occurrence and alternation of intense weather phenomena.

It is our duty to respond to this new challenge in two ways:

First, to take decisions, at global and national level, with which to reduce emissions, in order to slow down the evolution of climate change (mitigation). Second, to reassess the resilience of our infrastructure, in order to be better prepared when floods, fires and heat waves occur (adaptation).

A critical parameter is speed. Because, as a matter of fact, the problem already exists. We must, therefore, act immediately and provide, domestically and internationally. The transport sector is responsible for approximately ¼ of the European Union’s greenhouse gas emissions. Since the Green Deal, the goal has been to reduce emissions by 90% by 2050.

An ambitious goal, but if we take the actions foreseen in our common strategy for sustainable and smart mobility, we will shape a less polluting transport system, which, at the same time, will be more safe, competitive, intelligent, affordable and accessible for all.

For example, in the objectives set by the European Commission, it is foreseen that all modes of transport must become more sustainable, with widely available green alternatives and appropriate incentives to promote the transition.

Staikouras

Specific milestones have been set in the course of the European system. By 2030, at least 30 million zero-emission cars should be on European roads, while by 2050, almost all cars, light commercial vehicles, buses as well as new heavy-duty vehicles, should be zero-emission. Also, by 2030, high-speed rail traffic needs to double across Europe, while by 2035, large zero-emission aircraft should be available on the market.

Finally, by 2030 planned public transport journeys of less than 500 km should be carbon neutral and zero-emission marine vessels should be available on the market, while by 2050 a fully functional, multimodal trans-European transport network, for sustainable and smart transport with high-speed connectivity.

In particular, making transport sustainable requires, among other things, increasing the adoption of zero-emission vehicles, airplanes, renewable and low-carbon fuels, together with the creation of related infrastructure, such as the installation of 3 million public charging points, by 2030 , pan-European.

In this field, important steps have already been taken in Greece, where a remarkable increase in the penetration of electrification is recorded. In comparison, in 2019 there were 58 charging points throughout Greece. Today, their number exceeds 3,500, with the goal of developing 25,000 charging points by 2030.

At the same time, the percentage of electric and hybrid vehicle registrations is now 10%, up from 0.4% in 2019, as a result of the incentive policy for the purchase of electric vehicles, which will continue.

2,629 citizens have already applied for membership in the “Moving Electric 2” Program, from the competent services of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, which is now responsible for promoting electric mobility in our country. Whereas, so far 19,000 applications have been submitted for the second cycle, and 11,175 of them have been approved. It is estimated that another 5,000 applications will be processed by the end of October. In fact, almost 3 out of 4 applications concern two-wheelers, three-wheelers, small cars and bicycles, an element that reflects the shift of the market towards micro-mobility.

At the same time, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, in its area of ​​responsibility, is leading the effort to reduce the environmental footprint, with investments in the development of “green” fixed-track means, constructing emblematic projects – such as the Metro in Athens and Thessaloniki, but also with the supply of electric buses and other vehicles with anti-pollution technology, strengthening and modernizing the public transport fleet.

The launch of the first 250 electric buses is expected in the spring of 2024, and is expected to trigger the transition to a less polluting and more user-friendly urban transport system. In the same direction, the digitization of all processes in transport services is implemented, in combination with the adoption of intelligent technological systems, which promote smart mobility, which is the second pillar of our strategy for sustainable transport. The direct benefits of innovative applications are the reduction of bureaucracy, the saving of administrative costs, but also the reduction of the traffic burden, as the introduction of intelligent transport systems and electronic processes implies thousands of fewer movements of natural persons and vehicles.

A typical example of the positive consequences of modern technologies in transport is the urban supply chain, where many companies handle a large number of orders, quickly and efficiently, enhancing their competitiveness. At this point, allow me a parenthesis: especially for traffic, but also overall for the issue of rational management of resources in the urban environment, we are launching the establishment of metropolitan agencies in Attica and Thessaloniki.

The third pillar is transport resilience, inextricably linked to infrastructure. In the European commitment to complete the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) by 2030, the railway occupies a dominant position. Unfortunately, the damage caused by the bad weather is extensive. We are determined, and have found the resources, to restore, as soon as possible, its proper functioning.

At the same time, we are acting in the direction of Greece’s participation in the new railway freight corridors, such as the one connecting the “Baltic Sea – Black Sea – Aegean Sea”, we are promoting the development of the railway connection “Thessaloniki – Kavala – Alexandroupolis – Burgas – Varna – Rousse “, and we participate in the discussions on the participation of our country in the alternative routes of Ukrainian grain exports.

In summary, the challenges we face in the infrastructure and transport sector, a consequence of climate change and the green transition, require the adoption and implementation of a coherent policy, at national and European level, for two fundamental reasons:

Firstly, because the investment in sustainable forms of mobility must be protected and secondly, because the effort to restore the effects of natural disasters will remain fruitless if we do not correctly assess the coefficient of resilience of our infrastructure. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has a firm orientation towards the modernization of the transport system, with economic efficiency, social reciprocity and environmental sensitivity as key criteria.

We work, with consistency and determination, for sustainable, smart and resilient infrastructure and transport. And we are realistically optimistic that we will succeed.”