Thousands gathered in metropolitan cities all around the world last week in an international movement aimed at bringing about action against climate change.
From the streets of New York, to capital cities across Australia and even in Athens, people marched in the lead up to a UN Climate Summit in New York City.
With the ancient Parthenon ruins as their backdrop, roughly 800 to 1,000 people assembled in the Greek capital to voice their concerns to world leaders, and their own leaders, against controversial government proposals that could have ramifications for the country’s coastline and forests.
The head of environmental policy at WWF Greece, Theodota Nantsou, spoke to Neos Kosmos about what she describes as an “impressive” turnout by Greeks, in what is a growing focal point for the nation.
“Greece being deep into the economic crisis, priorities are different from climate change. But during the past year it has become evident that people do care about the environment, because things are turning worse and worse for nature.
“Nature conservation policies in Greece are being rolled back at unprecedented rates, and people are now beginning to react and ask for green economies and green ways out of the economic crisis. We think the fact that so many people turned up to this event is indicative that the environment is becoming a pressing issue of the everyday agenda of the people in Greece.”
Accordingly, an increasing number of Greeks want to join a growing worldwide environmental community, which aims to pressure global leaders into taking action on climate change.
Ms Nantsou explains that the most pressing issues for the Mediterranean country are its oil and gas reserves that may undermine marine areas, and its continual reliance on coal energy.
“Greece continues to invest in building new coal fired power plants, instead of investing in clean energy, which is abandoned in Greece. I mean you have sun, you have wind, you have universities that can undertake research in clean energy, you have good scientists but you don’t invest in that.”
Increasing announcements made by Greece’s Coalition government, regarding its coastlines and forestry, are also of major concern, she explains.
A story featured in Neos Kosmos in May related to a government bill ‘designed to lift restrictions on construction along the country’s coastline’. Following objections and outcry by locals, the government froze the proposal.
“The Greek government is aiming to roll back all environmental policies and laws in order to boost short-term economic development, which is based on constructions and short-term profits on natural resources and natural treasures. The coastal law was just one of the many political initiatives that had been taken by the Greek government that undermine Greece’s environmental protection laws.”
Mr Nantsou says people found the proposal “environmentally criminal” because of the country’s cultural and personal connection with the coast.
“Right after that bill another criminal bill was voted by the Hellenic Parliament, which aimed at undermining Greece’s forestry legislation. It legalises illegal buildings within forests, it undermines the status of forest protected areas and natural parks, and it allows building in many areas where it was not allowed before.”
Greece’s dwindling economic uncertainty has, she says, prompted officials into finding novel ways raising revenue, but may invariably undermine Greece’s natural landscape.
“Economic policies have to shift toward green taxation. I mean alleviate the tax burden from labour and place it on environmental impact. If you pollute you pay more. This is what many European Union countries do, this is what the European Union is asking, but on a voluntary basis, it is not imposed, but it is there.
“Tax environmental impact, make taxation on, say, labour lighter, make taxation on green innovative technologies lighter and you have the same overall tax income for the country. So you collect taxes but you boost labour, you boost innovation. Greece can find sustainable and new ways out of the economic crisis, without destroying its beaches, its mountains, forests, air, quality of life and cities.”
Ms Nantsou has been involved with WWF Greece for over 20 years and says it is important to preserve the country’s natural beauty.
“Many people are inspired by nature and you just have to realise this and see that it is part of our life, not just a hobby. It is part of your life and Greek nature offers amazing opportunities for Greece, I mean, people who visit Greece fall in love with Greek nature, why shouldn’t we?”
