World Environment Day and priorities for nature
Interview of Ioli Christopoulou on nature policy in Greece at a special podcast by Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) for the World Environment Day. The interview focused on the Green Tank's recommendations in order to address challenges and make use of opportunities for the country's biodiversity conservation.
We unite our voices for the protection of the natural environment
In view of the World Environment Day on 5 June 2021, 31 NGOs with recognized work in the conservation of the natural environment in Greece have co-signed a joint document together with corresponding number of pictures, one per organization.
Empowering civil society organizations
The Green Tank delivered two lectures in the six-month Social Dynamo project for the empowerment of environmental organization of the Bodossaki Foundation.
Trends in electricity production – April 2021
As the lignite phase-out continues in Greece, one of the key questions to be answered is which source will replace lignite in the power mix. According to the latest data from ADMIE, the “battle” between fossil gas and RES (mainly solar and wind energy) continues. https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/6299765/ Graph 1 More specifically, although fossil gas (43%) had…
The rescue of the Greek Galapagos
Ioli Christopoulou comments on the significance of the decision taken by the Ministry of Environment and Energy rejecting the installation of wind turbines on 14 islets in the Aegean Sea in Natura 2000 areas.
Stop the expansion of fossil gas infrastructure
Their concerns regarding the proposal by 10 EU Member States to reintroduce fossil gas in the revised trans-European infrastructure energy (TEN-E) regulation, expressed 50 environmental NGOs and think tanks from these Member States in their joint letter.
Nature 2000 Committee and the national environmental policy
Opinion piece by Ioli Christopoulou on the importance of the Nature 2000 Committee for the Greek environmental policy and its role in giving prominence to the natural wealth of the country.
Can energy communities face the new reality?
Opinion piece by Ioanna Theodosiou about the new reality Renewable Energy Communities need to confront.
“Life vest” of 1.4 trillion dollars by 2030 for protected areas
Ioli Christopoulou comments on the significance of the report by Cambridge University professor Sir Partha Dasgupta on the economics of biodiversity, and the need to redefine humanity’s relationship with nature, not on the basis of what humanity can draw from it, but on the basis of what nature can provide.
Greece rushes to exit coal amid carbon price surge
Nikos Mantzaris discusses with journalist Cristina Brooks the developments leading to the recent decision by PPC and the Greek government to move forward the lignite phase out by 3 years, to 2025, and how Greece’s last lignite plant, Ptolemaida 5, can be converted into a sustainable renewables-based energy storage facility providing cheaper electricity than a fossil gas plant which is currently PPC’s default plan for the post-lignite future of Ptolemaida 5.
Environmental permit terms for wind farms
Based on an analysis of 101 environmental permits for wind farms in Greece, the Green Tank and Nature Conservation Consultants (NCC) document differentiated approaches in the permitting process and recommend the adoption of a harmonized approach across the country. The promotion of renewable energy sources (RES) is the central tool for achieving the country's climate…
Renewables is the first source of energy in Greece
Nikos Mantzaris commented on the progress of renewables compared to other energy sources in Greece's electricity mix as it becomes apparent from the analysis of IPTO data for the first quarter of 2021, as well as the consequences of this development, to Machie Tratsa, journalist of Finacial Post.
6 reasons for the reform of the Greek National Energy and Climate Plan
Opinion piece by Nikos Mantzaris in huffingtopost.gr on the reasons which render the immediate reform of the Greek National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) necessary.
EU after Lignite and Coal
Analysis on the evolution of gross electricity production from different energy sources in EU-27 Members States since the beginning of the century as well as on the challenges for the future arising from the observed trends.
