Greece has set more ambitious targets for the development of solar and wind energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Athens is reportedly aiming for an 82% share of renewable energy in electricity generation by 2030, compared to the previous target of 66% set in 2019.
The national energy and climate plans of EU member states outline their contributions to the overall EU target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and provide a roadmap for energy industry investments.
With abundant sunlight, the country has more than doubled its renewable energy production since 2014, thanks to new solar and wind power plants, and has closed most of its coal-fired power plants.
Quoting from reuters.com, Greece’s Minister of Energy and Environment, Theodore Skylakakis, stated that the country has exceeded its targets for renewable energy penetration as well as for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
However, Skylakakis mentioned that the revised plan does not address how to adapt to the climate changes that have already occurred.
He added that there is a public opinion suggesting that it can prevent the climate crisis before it happens, but the climate crisis is already present with significant economic and fiscal implications. Skylakakis also noted that this weekend temperatures are expected to reach 34 degrees Celsius, indicating that Greece is already facing a climate crisis.
Greece, which has yet to recover from financial turmoil after nearly exiting the eurozone in 2015, is now facing severe floods and wildfires, which scientists attribute to rising temperatures in the summer.
The country faces challenges in financing infrastructure improvements to make it more resilient to extreme weather. Based on the new plan, Athens projects an additional investment need of €95 billion by 2030 to enhance energy efficiency in buildings and to increase capacity for solar, wind, and energy storage.
Total expenditures are estimated to reach €330 billion by 2050, with a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 58.6% by 2030, which is more ambitious compared to the previous plan targeting a 43% reduction.
