By Penelope Galliou

In a year when climate change has shown its “powers” from one end of the earth to the other, with disastrous consequences for humanity, Greece is coming to the World Summit on Climate Change (COP28), which has been taking place since yesterday in Dubai, and will last until December 12, 2023, with the aim of committing to ambitious actions to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change before and after 2030. Representatives of nearly 200 countries in two weeks and during the negotiations at COP28 are expected to fight hard for both the phasing out of fossil fuels and to finance the energy transition of developing countries.

Greece will be represented by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis who is expected to present our country’s initiatives in the energy transition and tackling climate change.

Greece is leading internationally, as well located in the leading countries of the planet in the utilization of renewable energy sources – especially the sun and wind. This year’s representation of our country at the Conference has been upgraded, while at COP28 there will be a Greek stand, which will be inaugurated today at noon by the Prime Minister.

Greece’s main goal is to strengthen efforts, at a global level, for a climate-resistant and sustainable development, which will hold the increase in temperature to 1.5oC.

These efforts take into account the scientific findings that drastic and immediate reductions in emissions, combined with the implementation of actions to adapt to (unavoidable) climate change in this decade, will reduce the devastating effects of climate change on humans. and ecosystems.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to emphasize that the energy transition in Greece is not only a matter of RES in power generation – touches on upgrading buildings, electrification of transport, strengthening industry to switch to low-emission technologies, maritime transport, our islands, and more. The goal at the COP is to highlight the overall model followed by Greece.

During his installation, the Greek prime minister is also expected to make special mention of the durability and protection of cultural monuments. Greece, which hosts an unfathomable wealth of Cultural Heritage, is constantly at the forefront of international efforts to address the issue and draw up an action plan to address the effects of climate change on the country’s archaeological sites and historical monuments.

During a special event at the Greek pavilion this afternoon, at which the Prime Minister will speak, the next Greek island GREco will also be revealed – building on a highly successful program that has accelerated the islands’ green and digital transition and has upgraded its image country and the quality of life of its citizens.

At the same time, Kyriakos Mitsotakis will present, together with the US Special Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, Our Ocean Conference, which aims to strengthen the protection of the oceans and the marine environment and is organized for 2024 by Greece, next April. The said conference is expected to consider ways of dealing with the effects of climate change, over-fishing and pollution of the seas. At the conference, both interested states and non-governmental organizations will be represented in order to make commitments for the protection of the seas.

The protection and preservation of the marine environment is a separate chapter of the UN Convention on the International Law of the Sea (chapter 12), the respect of which is a fundamental principle of our country.