Ten initiatives To protect the environment was presented by Vice -President of the Government, Mr. Kostis Chatzidakisspeaking last night at an Optypeka event at the Maroussi Town Hall, on the occasion of World Environment Day. Mr. Hatzidakis noted that “June 5th is not a celebration of the environment. It is a vigilance call, a call for action. Because the climate crisis is here. We see it with the huge fires all over the globe. We see it with water scarcity. We see it with phenomena that are so unprecedented and had not been observed all previous decades. “

Mr Hatzidakis then emphasized that “we have an obligation, primarily to the government, not to celebrate obviously, but to be vigilant and planning for the future and planning for the future.” And he presented 10 specific initiatives to protect the environment, which, as he pointed out, prove that “not only did we not stay with arms crossed, but we took many steps ahead, some of them with serious reactions”:

1. Aputing: Through the fair development program, invitations have been issued totaling EUR 1 billion. At the same time, they are proceeding with works in the field of RES. While PPC has announced that Ptolemais 5, the last lignite unit, will retire at the end of 2026. showing the provision of being present in the field and making substantial investment in the RES, along with other investments made by other businesses.

2. Promotion of renewable energy sources: Greece is 7th all over the planet in RES. In 2024 55% of electricity comes from renewable energy. While the country became a net electricity exporter in the same year.

3. Underwater electrical interconnections of the islands: The Cyclades interconnection, which will be completed in 2026. Crete, until Chania, is completed in 2021. While the “large” Crete – Attica interconnection is essentially completed. And the inauguration will take place in about a month.

4. Steps to electricity: Mr Hatzidakis, after noting that Greece has not progressed as other countries, said that, thanks to the incentives the government has given, electric vehicles have reached 50,000 out of just 500 in 2019. At the same time, the charging points have exceeded 8,000.

5. Energy -saving actions: After recognizing the delays in the payments of “saving”, Mr. Hatzidakis emphasized that “in recent years 3 billion has been given. For energy saving actions. “

6. Planning and spatial planning: They are proceeding, with funding from the Recovery Fund, 245 local and special urban planning plans across the country. “When completed, it will certainly be the largest urban reform, but possibly the largest silent, peaceful reform ever made in Greece,” Mr Hadjidakis noted.

7. Modern waste management: only 3 modern units were operating in 2019. Today, there are 13 modern units, 24 are constructed, and 6 are starting this year.

8. National Reore Reforetic-Antinero: EUR 600 million is available through the program, an amount that, as the Vice-President of the Government pointed out, “has nothing to do with the past”. At the same time, in forest maps the sanction has reached 90% of the country’s area. In addition, in the context of the National Reforestation Plan, the reforestation of northern Euboea has already been completed, followed by two reforestations in Thessaloniki, one in Parnitha and one in Penteli.

9. Supreme landscapes: With the “Salia Mountains” and “Fragative Beaches” programs, a total protection regime in 9 mountains and 238 beaches, a distinct natural beauty was introduced.

10. Contemporary Environmental Law: Mr Hatzidakis noted: “I had been criticized then as a responsible minister. They had appealed to the Council of State. They were rejected. ” And then he added that, thanks to this law, forest maps have been proceeded, a new European model for Natura was adopted, environmental licensing was radically simplified. And was founded by Oipota, replacing 36 scattered bodies for protected areas. Mr. Hatzidakis praised the role of Oipokas, as a high -level staff, noting that “things have changed. I am glad that I myself had the initiative to set up OIPEKA and now its operation has justified me. ” In addition, he added that Opimenus implements projects totaling € 80 million from the recovery fund.

Concluding his speech, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed that Greece has not solved all the problems with the environment. And he added: “The effort must continue. And it’s very high on our agenda. The New Democracy government has, however, made the environment, far more than several governments that preceded it. “

The Deputy Prime Minister concluded, stressing that “they may not bring votes like other issues, but the actions for the environment are consciousness actions! And especially those of us who have children and young children, who want to live in a human country and a human planet, have an obligation to have the environment very high! “