The past few weeks, plans to restart hydrocarbon extraction have triggered public concern about the environmental, economic and geopolitical implications of this policy, as well as the search for alternatives. Recently, a research team led by Professor Emmanuella Doussis, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, UNESCO Chairholder on Climate Diplomacy, through the collaboration with The Green Tank, published the policy paper “Hydrocarbon extraction vs Offshore wind: Can Greece become a green energy hub in the Mediterranean?” which illustrates the deadlock in hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation, and the climate and geostrategic advantages of offshore wind farms, together with the necessary policy regulations.
In her article “Can Greece become a green energy hub?” at the newspaper Epochi, Emmanouela Doussis presents the key findings of this research. As she points out, fossil fuel extraction has now been overtaken by developments brought by the European Green Deal and national and European climate neutrality targets. In addition, hydrocarbon extraction is a time-consuming and costly process with a highly uncertain outcome. On the contrary, the installation of offshore wind farms will exploit a proven energy resource of the country – its wind – which, according to the findings of the study, strengthens not only Greece’s green energy transition, but also its geopolitical position. As she puts it, “Greece can become a leader in a new energy market, which seems to be growing rapidly. At the same time, it will ensure green energy self-sufficiency to prevent a future crisis”.
The op-ed was published on 10-11 December 2022 in view of the thematic event “Is fossil fuels’ extraction compatible with sustainable development?”, organized by the newspaper Epochi, at the premises of Journalists’ Union of Athens Daily Newspapers, on Wednesday December 14, 2022, 19:00-21:30.
More information on the event is available at epohi.gr.
