Download Country Profile GREECE

LG Action - Country Profile Collection
GREECE
This document reflects the current status on:
•
Government levels and departments responsible for / working with local governments (LGs).
•
Main national climate and energy relevant legislation and strategies that impact / has potential to impact
cities and towns (also identifying what is legally not possible or difficult).,
•
National LG networks / associations’ support for local climate and energy action
•
Potential opportunities to be explored to improve the roll-out of local climate and energy action
•
A summary on the LG and their networks / associations’ interest and involvement in the Roadmap and
advocacy processes.
A. CONTEXT
1. Levels of government and roles1:
Basic inter-relationship and impact (potential impact for action)
Level:
Character:
Mandates / responsibilities / roles:
National
Parliamentary republic
11,295,002 inhabitants (2010)
Area: 131,990 km2
13 regions
The Peripheria (regions) consists of the
regional council and the secretary general.
The regional council is comprised of
department presidents, secretary general,
a representative of each urban and rural
municipality in the region, and
representatives of socio-professional
interested organisations.
The regional council is headed by the
secretary general who represents the
central government at the regional level.
It is the head of all regional services. In
addition, it represents the executive body
of he regional administration.
54 departments
The Nomoi (departments) are the Greek
departments. The nomarchiako simvoulio
(council of the department) is elected by
direct universal suffrage for four years.
The nomarchiakes epitropes
(departmental committees) are formed by
and elected from the council for a
maximum number of six. The nomarchis
(department president) represents the
departments and he is responsible for
The competencies of the departments are
related to development the department
itself, manage the local authorities’
services, urban and green area planning,
health and school buildings construction.
1
CCRE-CEMR, Secretary General, Local and Regional Structure in Europe, 2005 –
http://www.ccre.org/bases/T_599_28_3524.pdf; CCRE-CEMR, Secretary General, Consultation Procedures
within European States; 2007 - http://www.ccre.org/publications_en.htm?page=3
LG Action Country Profile - GREECE
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implementing the council’s and the
committees' decisions.
• 78 cities have
signed up to
the Covenant
of Mayors
(July 20112)
• Largest:
Athens with
approx.
745,514
inhabitants
(city centre)
Cycle: In Greece, there are two kinds of
municipalities: urban and rural ones.
The Dimotiko Simvoulio which represents
the municipal council for rural municipal
areas. It has a four year mandate.
The Dimarchiaki Epitropi (municipal
committee) members are elected for two
years. Theirs main responsibility is about
the accounting and budget sectors.
The dimarchos (mayor) main role to
implement the council and committee
decisions. He works together with the
municipal committee. He attends the
council meetings but has no vote.
The Simvoulio (municipal council) decision making body of the municipality represents the municipal rural area
authority. Their members have a four years
term mandate. The head of this municipal
council is the president (proedros
kinotitas) and is responsible for the
implementation of the municipal council
and he represents the rural municipalities.
Financing: The primary revenue of the local
government comes from the central
government in form of grants3.
The municipal council is the deliberative
assembly of the urban area municipalities.
The seats portions is divided as 3/5 to the
majority list and the remaining 2/5 to the
left lists.
Their main competencies are about
culture, public transport, socio economic
promotion, gas and water supply and
school building maintenance.
B. NATIONAL / FEDERAL INFORMATION – Climate and Energy
Legislation & approach taken by country (name & number of law / regulation together with summary of intent)
2. Main national / federal climate strategies, policy and legislation on climate change
2.1 Climate strategy and policy:
− Greece ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2002. The most important national body designated to
manage and be responsible for addressing Kyoto Protocol targets and manage all the issues
related to climate change is the Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works
(MEPPPW). However, it works with many departments integrated from their specific field of
action. The technical responsibilities regarding climate change issues and environment are up to
the NOA - the National Observatory of Athens5.
st
− The 1 Greek National Programme for Climate Change set the GHG emission reduction to 15% ±
3% by 2000 compared to 1990 for three greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O and CH4). In 1997, the Kyoto
Protocol provides, for the first time, legally binding targets for GHG emissions reduction. The
targets set at that time were to reduce, individually or jointly, in developed countries, emissions of
6 greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, HFC, PFC and SF6) by more than 5% in the period 2008 to 2012
compared to 1990 level. The EU sets -8% reduction.
2
www.eumayors.eu
LG Action Country Profile - GREECE
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For the period 2008-2012, Greece targets are set as 25% compared to base year emissions (1990
for CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions, and 1995 for the f-gases).
− The Greek climate change strategy is planned within the National Climate Change Programme. The
2nd programme has been adopted in 2002 in order to meet the Kyoto Protocol targets. The main
actions are related to promotion of natural gas use in the final demand energy sector, promotion
of renewable energy sources (RES) and energy saving and efficiency for electricity and heat
production and in the tertiary sectors, structural changes in agriculture and in chemical industry,
emission reduction in transport and waste sectors.
− However, the target set by the Greece of 40% reduction by the 2020 is not binding and there is no
comprehensive climate and energy strategy beyond 20206.
2.2 Climate Policy and Legislation:
− There are two national operational programmes which are addressing climate change issues:
operational programme competitiveness, operational programme environmental.
− The former cover the time frame 2000-2006 and is focused in the GHG emission reduction. This
programme main objective is to support entrepreneurship in such areas as new technologies, the
liberalized energy markets, environment, tourism and actions for business modernization.
− While the latter programme is addressing the GHG emission reduction in order to manage and
reduce the atmospheric pollution especially for the regions of Athens and Thessalonica. Generally
speaking, the main points are: fulfilling the country’s commitments under the EU legislation
framework but also from an international point of view (international Treaties and Conventions)
related to climate change and measure for the ozone layer protection, actions directly to the
sources of atmospheric pollution, traffic management in urban centres, reducing noise in urban
and tourist developed regions.
− Legislation:.
• The Law 3017/2002 is related to Greek ratification of Kyoto Protocol and it designated the
Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works to coordinate and manage
the policies and measures addressing Kyoto protocol targets and to formulate the Greek
National Programme under the Kyoto Protocol provisions.
• National Allocation Plan 2008-12 (2008) is a new allocation plan for CO2 emissions which goes
to replace the 2005-2007 plan. This new plan allocates 69.1 MtCO2 equivalent of emissions per
year to energy and industrial facilities. It represents a reduction compared to the previous
targets set by the other allocation plan.
• National Plan to Combat Air Pollution (2008) is regarding mostly car drivers and car sectors in
the way that it goes to regulate and manage car traffic according to the different type of car
emissions. Then it provided some financial incentives to encourage a switch to more
environmentally friendly cars and to remove older vehicles from the road, including those
without catalytic converters. In addition, this law is addressing also the industrial sector and its
GHG emission with some restricted measures for them.
• Implementation of EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) / Energy Efficiency
Code for Buildings Revision (2006) is related to the transposition of the relative EU directive
for the use of efficient improvement in house buildings.
2.3 Energy policy and legislation:
− The operational programme competitiveness, beyond its commitment related to climate change
issues, underlines also some measures associated to finance or co-finance actions in the energy
field. It plans the development of infrastructure for the penetration of natural gas and renewable
energy sources. In addition, it focused also about energy savings, installation of co-generation
systems, and installation of RES systems and so on.
− Generally speaking, the Greek energy policy is focused on the introduction of natural gas in the
national energy system
−
LG Action Country Profile - GREECE
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−
−
−
−
−
The introduction of natural gas into the national energy system is one of the largest investments
done by this nation with the energy sector but it not the only measure taken. Greek energy
measures are also related to improve conventional power generation system. About that, the
main actions are related to efficiency improvements for the existing lignite mills, reduction of
distribution losses and the implementation of a cogeneration programme in the lignite-fired
power plants. Then, the energy policy plans the promotion of renewable energy sources through
the Operational Programme Energy which provided favourable buy-back tariffs for electricity
generated from renewable energy.
Legislation:
• Actions to introduce energy conservation measures in the residential/tertiary sectors on the
other hand, have encountered major delays due mainly to administrative problems in the
adoption of the Regulation for Rationale Use and Conservation of Energy, which is also to
incorporate the Community Directive 2002/91/EC for energy efficiency of buildings.
• Feed-in tariff for Solar PV (2009) is related to new feed-in tariff system for small OV solar
system.
• Generation of Electricity using Renewable Energy Sources (2006) is related to the EU Directive
2001/77/EC transposition into the Greek legislative framework. It deals with the promotion
and improvement in the use of energy from renewable energy sources.
• National Operational Programme for Competitiveness II (2000) along with the first programme
covers several economic activities and, among them, the programme contained several
provisions for energy efficiency and incentives for renewable energy investment.
• Pilot Projects Regarding Renewable Energies (1999) consists of several studies and pilot
applications related to renewable energies sources.
• Operational Programme for Energy (OPE): Fiscal Incentives for Renewables and Energy
Conservation (1994) consists of a financial framework to sustain renewable energy projects
• The law about the incentives for Investment in Combined Heat and Power (1990) is related to
financial incentives for investment in the combined heat power sector.
Greece has a rate of energy dependency of 71.9%.
Greece performance in terms of GHG emissions reduction is positive, it is 5.52 % under its Kyoto
target for the 2012.
The feed-in tariffs are calculated in Euros per Kilowatt-hour3 (as at April 2010).
Windpower
Wind power
Member state 'On-shore'
'Off-shore'
Solar PV
Biomass
Hydro
Greece
0.07 - 0.09
0.07 - 0.09
0.55
0.07 - 0.08
0.07 - 0.08
C. LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEGAL MANDATE(S) / RESPONSIBILITIES
Legislation and the role of LGs in the specific context of climate change and energy (name and number of law /
regulation together with summary)
3. LGs and climate change:
Was there a local government reform process? (change in their roles? Change in government levels?)
−
3
Greece is a very centralised country and LGs mostly have a consultative role on local issues. The
recent change in consolidating the numbers of LGs, by combining smaller communities is still
underway – explore impact.
http://www.energy.eu
LG Action Country Profile - GREECE
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Do LGs have a legal mandate or responsibility regarding climate change mitigation?
−
At the regional level, the prefecture is responsible for some aspects related to environmental
management such as developing and applying environmental policies and strategies at local level,
adoption of the Prefectural decisions, implementation of physical planning programmes.
Do LGs have a legal mandate or responsibility to address adaptation/community resilience/disaster
prevention?
−
?
May they participate in carbon off-setting schemes (voluntary or otherwise)?
−
?
4. LGs and energy:
Do LGs have any mandate and responsibilities regarding local energy production (e.g. regulations, may
they establish an ESCO (Energy Service Company7)?
− As for other EU countries, the Greek LGs have mandate and responsibilities for local energy
production but this market is still at the beginning with few improvements nonetheless the large
potentiality of this nation. Actually, the Greek situation consists of projects about ESCO and just
sporadic third parties financing relations in progress. The situation is changing only in those recent
years and the most common energy technologies involved are the solar, thermal and small hydro
power energy sources.
Do LGs have any mandate and responsibilities regarding buildings and urban planning (e.g.
regulations, land sale requirements, Urban Master Plan, etc.)?
− ?
Mobility?
− Most of the measures taken in the transport field are related to the introduction of biofuel within
the public transport network.
− There are several projects of urban and suburban railway systems in progress to improve public
transport. All the measures taken address both GHG emission reduction and improved fuel
efficiency.
Waste?
− Local and municipal authorities are responsible for licensing procedures for installations in urban
areas and for issues related to solid waste disposal on land.
− LGs have the responsibility to construct wastewater plants, and the main goals to reduce the
production of waste as well as the reduction of biodegradable waste dumped in landfill.
Water?
− ?
D. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS – ACTUAL APPROACH
What is actually happening at the LG level? (e.g. voluntary engagement as the local impact of climate change is
already visible, or awaiting guidance from national level)
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5. Motivation for local climate and energy action:
Why do LGs respond or plan to respond (is there a specific reason, or various reasons)?
− ?
6. Local climate action:
What do LGs do? How do they respond (different levels of municipality engaged? Different
departments active, with one department leading? Overall strategy or ad hoc responses?)
− Mostly ad hoc responses
Any specific challenges they face, e.g. difficulty with conducting a greenhouse gas inventory?
− Many are the Greek cities which committee themselves in relation to the climate change
catalogue and taking some efforts in addressing the climate change issues.
Is climate change resilience / adaptation directly addressed (even if not mandate exists)?
− ?
7. Local energy action:
Estimate how many LGs are actively engaged in switching to sustainable energy
− CRES offers training to LGs – mostly start up phase for many
Estimate how many LGs have already developed an Action Plan (energy, mobility, waste,)
− There are some LGs plans related to energy fields and climate change actions about the transport
system and the waste management.
− Example: Municipality of Thessaloniki, Demonstration of the application of sustainable and
efficient second generation biofuels in an urban environment. The initiative includes the following
actions:
• development of a network for the collection of used cooking oil (Municipality of Thessaloniki
and Union of Thessaloniki restaurant owners);
• production of biofuel from cooking oil, using hydrogen produced from energy generated by
photovoltaic systems (National Centre for Research and Technological Development);
• carrying out of tests on the fuel produced (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki);
•
demonstration of the use of biofuel in the running of a municipal refuse collection vehicle and
the cataloguing of results and measurements.
− The project is expected to have concrete environmental benefits and to promote public-private
partnerships. It is considered innovative at a European level and shows good potential for transfer
and replication in other EU areas4.
Is there any development of implementing new regulations to conform to national or EU legislation or
directives (e.g. EPBD - Energy Performance of Buildings Directive).
− Beyond the "Energy Performance of Buildings" (2002/91/EC) directive, Greece have promoted the
2nd National Climate Change Program including also some measures regarding the conservation
and rational use of energy in the buildings of the residential and tertiary sector and the Greece
planned, by the end of 2005, to incorporate completely the above mentioned EC Directive on
"Energy Performance of Buildings".
4
Further Information about this Project can be found in the Energy Final Report of the Committee of the
Regions, Sustainable energy policies by EU regions and cities: Good practices and challenges, October 2010.
http://portal.cor.europa.eu/europe2020/news/Documents/Survey%20Sustainaible%20energy%20May%202010
/Energy%20Final%20Report.pdf
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8. Role of national LG association(s) in support of members
All national and thematic local government associations and networks - organisation name{s}, number
of members, any established conservation of resources, etc..
Central Union of Municipalities and Communities of Greece / Κεντρική Ένωση Δήμων & Κοινοτήτων
Ελλάδας (ΚΕΔΚΕ) - merger taking place, reduction in numbers. Impact not yet clear
E. INVOLVEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ACTIVITIES
9. Overview of LG involvement in the Local Government Climate Roadmap
How have LGs been involved in the international and European process – how interested, how many, to what
extent (from very active to observer).
Level of involvement in the national climate debate?
− ?
Impact of this on interest and involvement in regional (European) and international activities?
− Low
F. INVOLVEMENT IN NATIONAL ACTIVITIES
11. Overview of national-local interaction8
Interaction and activities among national (federal) – regional (state) – local governments. Also potential /
planned activities (e.g. meetings scheduled) for 2010 and 2011 that could be explored within the framework of
LG Action.
Is there any formal interaction between national government and cities / others?
− In Greece there is not any formal involvement of LGs in the decision making process and the only
guarantee is related to administrative and financial provisions. However, there are some laws in
which is quoted that, beyond important decisions regarding local level, LGs should be invited to
take part at the decision making process.
− The role developed by the Economic and Social Committee (ESC) deals with public debate about
issues concerning financial and social policies in Greece. Members of the ESC belong to every
social and professional group and, among them there are three members from Central Union of
Municipalities and Communities of Greece (KEDKE). Their role is to represent LGs.
Regular meetings? Specific topics?
− There some regular meeting among where local authorities are involved but usually local
government are not systematically consulted. Usually, most of the meeting, one held, they are
about an already prepared draft law and the role play by the local authorities KEDKE (Local Unions
of Municipalities and Communes) is not always binding. Finally, it can be said that the consultation
procedures of local authorities are mainly informal
Is there is a need for improved national-local dialogue?
− The national local dialogue in Greece could be improved firstly recognizing it a legal base through
the introduction with the constitutional text and giving much importance to the meeting among
the parties and to the role played by the KEDKE.
G. CONTACTS
13. Contacts for cities interested in providing additional information
Refer to CoM signatory list
14. Contacts for the national and sub-national government level
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Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change
15. Contacts for LG association(s)
Central Union of Municipalities and Communities of Greece
Κεντρική Ένωση Δήμων & Κοινοτήτων Ελλάδας (ΚΕΔΚΕ)
65 Akadimias Str. & 8 Genadiou Str.,
Athens 106 78
Tel.: 30-210-3899 600
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.kedke.gr
Compiled on: June 2010 / updated July 2011
Main Author(s): Dina Rizzio and Maryke van Staden (ICLEI Europe)
Contributions by: -
LG Action is co-funded by:
The sole responsibility for the content of this
document lies with the authors. It does not
necessarily reflect the opinion of the European
Communities. The European Commission is not
responsible for any use that may be made of the
information contained therein.
LG Action Country Profile - GREECE
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