kathimerini.gr
Greek Local Governance and Climate Action
Analysis of the challenges and opportunities in improving the effectiveness of Greek local government in tackling climate change, focusing on decentralization, funding, and training.
Greek
Greece
Climate ChangePolicyFundingLocal GovernmentDecentralization
Κόμβος Κλιματικής Αλλαγής (Cchub.eu)Athens Democracy ForumΕλιαμεπ
Μαρία Λογοθέτη
- What is the current state of funding for local climate initiatives in Greece?
- Significant funding is available through the Recovery Fund and the national budget, but the distribution methods don't account for the diverse needs of different municipalities.
- How can decentralization improve the effectiveness of climate action in Greece?
- Decentralization is crucial; the central government needs to trust local authorities and provide adequate resources. Currently, the system is overly controlling and hinders effective action.
- What are the main challenges facing Greek municipalities in addressing climate change?
- The Greek government has mandated that municipalities create Municipal Emission Reduction Plans (MERPs) by March 31, 2023, and Urban Resilience Strategies by May 31, 2025, but no municipality has submitted a MERP to date.
- What are the key shortcomings in the training and capacity-building of municipal staff?
- Staff training is lacking. There's insufficient knowledge of hiring processes outside of the ASEP framework, co-designing actions with local stakeholders, and managing European funds.
- What opportunities exist for improving the functionality of local governance in Greece?
- Utilizing new digital tools and sharing best practices among municipalities can improve efficiency, but requires political will and improved communication with international entities.