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Greece aligns with climate policy skeptics, diverging from EU goals
🇬🇷 Greece /Environment & Climate

Greece aligns with climate policy skeptics, diverging from EU goals

From Kathimerini · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Context piece
  • Greece is aligning with skeptical European countries on climate policy, diverging from its previous ambitious commitments.
  • This shift, particularly concerning the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), could weaken climate goals by lowering carbon prices.
  • The author argues Greece should pursue green technologies for economic benefit rather than weakening climate strategy, contrasting its stance with Spain and Portugal.

Greece has positioned itself alongside countries like Hungary, Italy, Poland, and the Czech Republic in expressing skepticism towards the European Union's climate policy and green energy transition. This marks a significant policy shift, moving away from the nation's previously stated ambitious climate goals, as outlined in its climate law and National Energy and Climate Plan.

The current EU ETS reform aims to meet climate targets by 2040. It focuses on stabilizing the carbon market over the next decade, a cornerstone of the EU's climate strategy. However, the intervention by these skeptical nations is expected to drive down ETS prices. This weakened market signal could undermine the achievement of legally mandated climate objectives.

While supporting energy-intensive industries and shipping is understandable, the author suggests targeted tools like free emission allowances and decarbonization investments for industry. For shipping, a delay in ETS application is justified due to immature technologies, not a general opposition to the system. Greece's approach to the ETS2, which extends carbon pricing to buildings and road transport, is more tactical, seeking exemptions and additional resources rather than outright rejection.

The article highlights Greece's macroeconomic interest in fostering a production model linked to green technologies, innovative businesses, and modern infrastructure. However, deviating from an ambitious climate strategy risks undermining this very future. The author points out the stark contrast between Greece's current stance and that of Spain and Portugal, which face similar economic and industrial challenges and climate change risks despite having comparable green energy resources.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathimerini in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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