Athens reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 61% by 2030

The updated climate action plan voted yesterday Athens City Councilthus laying the foundations for a critical goal: Achieving it Paris Agreement to limit the rise in world temperature to 1.5o C and climate neutrality by 2050.

The multi-page updated Plan prepared by the municipal authority, makes Athens, the first Greek city through the systematic recording of the problem of climate change, specifies scientifically and thoroughly its axes of solution.

It is a plan that aims to help tackle the economic crisis by reducing energy costs by shifting to renewable energy sources, but also by preserving public health and improving the quality of life through specific lines of action.

The goals by 2030

The Climate Action Plan includes the following strategic goals, until 2030:

• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 61% (compared to 2018).
• 70% of the city’s population has access to a 15 minute walk to a green area.
• 30% of the city surface to be covered by 2030 by green areas (trees, urban forests, parks, hills, private greenery, green walls and roofs) and / or permeable surfaces (soil surfaces, water permeable materials, surfaces with sustainable management systems water).

At the same time, the plan aims to:

• In the reduction of high temperatures and the intensity of the urban thermal island phenomenon.
• Reducing the intensity of local floods.
• In the protection of Public Health and the support of the most vulnerable populations.
• In the protection of the population, the natural and structured environment from the climatic hazards.
• In enhancing biodiversity and supporting natural resources.
• Improving air quality.
• In reducing noise pollution.
• Enhancing the resilience of infrastructure.

The action lines for the climate plan

The actions presented in the updated Climate Action Plan are the result of many months of efforts and intensive consultations between the services of the Municipality of Athens, academics, representatives of the city’s population groups, Non-Governmental Organizations, climate experts and representatives of the private sector. in the field of environment.

The axes of action can be summarized as follows:

1. Production of energy from Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and energy upgrade of a structured environment.
2. Accelerate the transition to sustainable and smart mobility.
3. Urban rejuvenation with integration of green and blue infrastructure.
4. Management and restoration of ecosystems and biodiversity.
5. Prevention and response to climate risks.
6. Circularity and sustainable water and waste management.
7. Going to a green and digital city.

The speech of Kostas Bakogiannis in the municipal council

During yesterday’s meeting of the municipal council, the K. Bakoyannis, Referring to the updated Climate Action Plan, he stressed that “this is a plan that goes beyond a term or a municipal authority. It can not fit in just one faction, but it can fit in the whole city “and added:” It is not an abstract design. It combines technocratic analysis with integrated programming. It’s absolutely realistic and is already being implemented. “

Mr. Bakoyannis described the plan as a “road map” and underlined: “It cannot be realized in one day. It takes time and a lot of work. We know that much more can be done for what has been done. “We know, however, what the” path “is to achieve:” This is exactly the plan, “he said.

Dimarreferred to the updating of the Climate Action Plan through Athens’ participation in the C40 climate network: “Athens followed the roadmap for the network member cities and developed targeted actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and climate change change that enhances the resilience of the city “.

Mr. Bakoyannis also pointed out that “as a municipal authority, we used all the existing experience and made a basic strategic choice that indicates that the entire development plan, project schedule, interventions for public space, green, as well as the environmental and social policy will be inseparably integrated in the wider climate plan of Athens “, and added:” In other words, any decision taken in the Municipality of Athens has the factor of the climate crisis in its “heart”.

He referred to the recent significant success of Athens to join -along with five more Greek cities- in the program of the European Commission “100 Climate Neutral Cities by 2030 to and from the citizens”, utilizing important community resources with many benefits.

Finally, Mr. Bakoyannis thanked all those who participated in the elaboration of the plan and said that it is a dynamic plan, which must be systematically updated and re-evaluated every year, in the city council.

The integrated climate plan of Athens will guide all the coming years – as well as the corresponding plans of other major cities of the world – the public and private sector and will sensitize the civil society, with the aim of maintaining the global climate balance and the sustainable perspective. of the next generations. The time milestones for tackling the climate crisis are set for 2030, 2040 and finally 2050.