Honorary doctor of the Department of Environment of the Ionian University Katerina Sakellaropoulou

The President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Department of Environment of the Ionian University today in Zakynthos.

The ceremony, which took place in the amphitheater of the University, lasted about half an hour and was attended by local and regional authorities.

Ms. Sakellaropoulou was named an honorary doctor by the rector of the Ionian University, Professor Andreas Floros.

«It is a special honor and joy for today and my announcement as an honorary doctor of the Department of Environment of the Ionian University. The Ionian Islands have contributed invaluably, both before and after their integration, to the Greek State, to letters and the arts. The re-establishment, in 1984, of the Ionian University, comes to crown this offer and to remind us of the prominent role of the Ionian Islands in the spiritual formation of modern HellenismSaid at the beginning of her speech Mrs. Sakellaropoulou.

Even Mrs. Sakellaropoulou pointed out that “My interest and involvement in environmental issues dates back to my long tenure as a judge. I am therefore happy that the decision to announce me comes from the general assembly of the Department of Environment, based in Zakynthos, a place completely intertwined with the study and research of the natural environment».

The President of the Hellenic Republic, made a special reference to Zakynthos, stating that “in addition to unparalleled beauty, it has two very important habitats of rare marine species, protected by international conventions: The breeding habitat of the sea turtle Caretta caretta in the Gulf of which since 1999 has established the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, and the habitat of living and breeding of the Mediterranean seal Monachus monachus, on the western and northern steep shores of the island, which have been designated as NATURA areas “while adding that during In the Council of State, I had the opportunity to participate in several cases that dealt with issues related to the protection status of these areas “.

Ms. Sakellaropoulou also referred in more detail to the Department of Environment where she was awarded an honorary doctorate, saying that “aims at qualitative and quantitative understanding of physical, chemical, biological processes and their effects on the environment and ecosystems, as well as environmental technologies. “His curriculum is based on the positive sciences and promotes an interdisciplinary approach, which is essential for understanding and addressing the complex issues of environmental protection.”

“In environmental issues, legal science sometimes reaches its limits,” said Ms. Sakellaropoulou, adding that “the interdisciplinary approach can highlight the multifaceted and complex, scientific, legal, economic and social nature of the effects of an administrative act.” which judges are called upon to judge and evaluate on the basis of vague legal concepts and criteria that combine legal and technical judgments “.

“Perhaps the most typical example is the specialization and application of the principle of sustainable development. Sustainable development is a principle that governs both EU law and the Greek legal order. It is enshrined, in the form of ‘sustainability’, in Article 24 of the Constitution, guides the reasoning of the judge and is the cornerstone of a rich and innovative case law. Understanding this principle, which has come to the forefront internationally, thanks to important UN texts, such as the United Nations Millennium Declaration and in particular the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is crucial in the context of the global climate crisis. The threat of climate change also affects our region, the Mediterranean region, which is under significant environmental pressure. These will become more and more intense in the near future. For this reason, the term “climate emergency situation” has become a test, “added Ms. Sakellaropoulou.

Then, the President of the Republic, said that “in these circumstances the concept of climate justice emerges, which perceives the environmental issue from a moral and secondarily legal point of view, linking, among other things, the phenomenon of climate change with human rights and their violations. A similar concept is that of fair transition, which aims to mitigate the social and economic consequences of the transition to more environmentally friendly forms of energy “to add that” in view of this, the judge’s position in dealing with the climate crisis is now crucial. Without questioning the role of international organizations and national governments, which, through their multilateral commitments, such as the Treaty of Paris, are called upon to take immediate action to halt it, the judiciary is confronted with the guarantee and delimitation of this state obligation. . The concepts of the climate trial and the climate refugee reflect, among other things, the interconnection of the judicial act and the environmental protection “.

“Important decisions of national courts show the way,” said Sakellaropoulou, adding that “in a recent ruling in 2021, the German Federal Constitutional Court established the constitutional obligation of the German legislature and the German government to take initiatives for a more effective compliance with the country’s international environmental commitments. As the court characteristically ruled, based on the concept of intergenerational justice, inaction and reluctance to take all necessary measures at the appropriate time, violates the fundamental rights and freedoms of future generations. “This defense of freedom, in its timeless dimension, goes hand in hand with the corresponding approach to the environment as a third-generation collective right.”

Finally, Ms. Sakellaropoulou pointed out that “the environment is one of the topics in the Presidency of the Republic, as the awakening, vigilance and awareness of all Greek citizens is a matter of urgency and urgency.

The European Green Agreement and the emphasis on the environment and green growth, the new program of the Recovery Fund, must give the impetus for the green restart of the Greek economy and the strengthening of the ecological sensitivity of each of us. The war in Ukraine, and the ensuing energy crisis, should be only a temporary setback. The guarantee of a sustainable environment is of existential importance for our culture and constitutes our highest debt to, not only to ourselves, but also to the generations to come. In the urgent response to climate change, an ethic of responsibility for all of us must be established and consolidated on the occasion of the difficulties and challenges it poses to us. That will be our greatest hope for the future. “