Climate law: Will gasoline car sales be banned from 2030? -Scanning changes |

Prohibition of the use of heating oil burners and the sale of cars with gasoline or diesel engines from 2030, abolition of the use of fuel oil for the production of electricity on the islands, compulsory insurance of buildings in high climatic risk areas, expansion of the to consider the climate effects, are some of the measures provided by the new climate law, which will be presented in the coming days.

The adoption of the climate law was announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his speech at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change COP26 in Glasgow.

As the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Energy, Climate, Environment and Circular Economy George Kremlis points out in his statements to APE-MPE: “The climate law that will be put to public consultation is extremely ambitious. It sets the bar high, as it does not simply transpose European goals into national law but complements them, updates them and often goes beyond them. It is a very modern legislation that shows that Greece is a pioneer in the issues of climate change “.

The law will set quantitative targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% in 2030 compared to 1990, by 80% in 2040, with the ultimate goal of climate neutrality in 2050, which is also provided by Community legislation. The targets will be reviewed every five years depending on the evolution of pollutants and Community regulations.

In order to achieve the goals, a National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change, Regional and Municipal Plans for the reduction of emissions will be prepared. Sectoral “carbon budgets” will also be drawn up for seven sectors / sectors of activity which are: Electricity and heat generation, Transport, Industry, Buildings, Agriculture and Livestock, Waste, Land use, land use change and forestry.

According to information, the basic regulations of the law by sector provide the following:

– Electricity: increase of the share of RES in the percentage of 70% in the final energy consumption until 2030, with measures that include facilitation of the licensing, strengthening of the networks, promotion of the energy storage etc.

– Transport: from 2025 all new taxis in Attica and Thessaloniki will be mandatory, as well as one third of the new rental vehicles will be zero emission vehicles. By 2023 at least a quarter of new private car companies will be purely electric or hybrid electric vehicles.

In terms of cars and light commercial, from 2030 will be allowed to sell only vehicles with zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Islands: until 2030 the use of fuel oil for electricity generation on non-interconnected islands is prohibited. This means that the islands should turn to modern solutions such as those applied in Halki, Tilos etc. with renewable sources, energy storage, energy management systems etc.

-Buildings: from 2023, the installation of heating oil burners where there is an adequate available natural gas network is prohibited. From 2025, the installation of heating oil burners is prohibited and from 2030, the use of heating oil burners is prohibited in all buildings. This means that central heating will have to be converted to either natural gas or new, more environmentally friendly forms (eg heat pumps). In addition, from 2025 all new buildings located in high vulnerability zones must be insured. Insurance will be a condition for the electrification of the building.

-Industry: environmental impact studies and Environmental Conditions Approval Decisions are expanded to cover the effects of climate investment. In addition, polluting companies are required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2022. All companies with more than 500 employees will publish carbon footprint reports each year.

Finally, the law establishes a National Observatory for Adaptation to Climate Change, which in cooperation with the National Meteorological Service and other public bodies will monitor climate data and provide forecasts.