Campaigners in Greece have apparently succeeded in halting plans for the constructions of new coal-fired power plants. Can we pull off the same here? The future depends on it.
WWF Greece's targeted campaign opposing new coal-fired power plants has paid off. Greece will cancel all plans for new coal-fired power plants the country's development minister, Kostis Hatzidakis, said on February 10. Hatzidakis also ruled out the introduction of nuclear energy into the country's energy mix.
"We congratulate Mr Hatzidakis for ending the coal drama and the rumors regarding the introduction of nuclear energy," said WWF Greece CEO Demetres Karavellas.
This decision comes after months of intensive lobbying and a coalition effort, known as the "No-to-Coal" initiative. This involved WWF Greece working together with local authorities in seven different sites that would have been affected by new coal power plants. The initiative attracted political attention at all levels - local, regional and national and triggered some of the most noteworthy mass local rallies opposing the coal plants.. It was coupled with locally targeted "yet-to-renewables" campaigns, offering real solutions that met with the support of local communities.
"We feel that our efforts to prove that Greece does not need coal power plants and nuclear energy have been justified. Today, we can be more optimistic that Greece might make the necessary shift towards a more sustainable and competitive green economy," Demetres Karavellas.
The "No-to-Coal" initiative is part of WWF Greece's wider climate change campaign which aims to influence the position of the Greek government and the private sector on climate and energy issues and actively involve Greek society in seeking sustainable solutions.
Last November, WWF Greece published a low carbon energy vision for Greece for 2050. The report envisages a CO2 emissions reduction of close to 70% by 2050 and proposes specific means by which this can be accomplished.
WWF Greece will intensify its efforts over the next few months to ensure that Greece plays a positive role within the EU in the critical climate change negotiations. Only a few weeks ago, the mailbox of Kostas Karamanlis, the Greek Prime Minister, was swamped by thousands of e-cards sent by WWF Greece supporters, urging him to actively contribute to the global efforts to fight climate change during the UN Climate Conference held in Poznan, Poland, in December.
"We congratulate Mr Hatzidakis for ending the coal drama and the rumors regarding the introduction of nuclear energy," said WWF Greece CEO Demetres Karavellas.
This decision comes after months of intensive lobbying and a coalition effort, known as the "No-to-Coal" initiative. This involved WWF Greece working together with local authorities in seven different sites that would have been affected by new coal power plants. The initiative attracted political attention at all levels - local, regional and national and triggered some of the most noteworthy mass local rallies opposing the coal plants.. It was coupled with locally targeted "yet-to-renewables" campaigns, offering real solutions that met with the support of local communities.
"We feel that our efforts to prove that Greece does not need coal power plants and nuclear energy have been justified. Today, we can be more optimistic that Greece might make the necessary shift towards a more sustainable and competitive green economy," Demetres Karavellas.
The "No-to-Coal" initiative is part of WWF Greece's wider climate change campaign which aims to influence the position of the Greek government and the private sector on climate and energy issues and actively involve Greek society in seeking sustainable solutions.
Last November, WWF Greece published a low carbon energy vision for Greece for 2050. The report envisages a CO2 emissions reduction of close to 70% by 2050 and proposes specific means by which this can be accomplished.
WWF Greece will intensify its efforts over the next few months to ensure that Greece plays a positive role within the EU in the critical climate change negotiations. Only a few weeks ago, the mailbox of Kostas Karamanlis, the Greek Prime Minister, was swamped by thousands of e-cards sent by WWF Greece supporters, urging him to actively contribute to the global efforts to fight climate change during the UN Climate Conference held in Poznan, Poland, in December.