Posted on May, 07 2021

The aim of the initiative is a science based proposal for a climate law, co-authored by thousands of citizens, as well as organizations, stakeholders and movements.

The development of a national climate law is becoming an increasingly pressing matter, as Greece lacks the regulatory framework and governance system to design an effective transition to climate neutrality while dealing with the effects of the climate crisis. With scientific evidence showing that our country is exposed to severe climate impacts, it is therefore an urgent need to align Greece's economic, social and development policy with the global effort to limit temperature increase to 1,5°C.

To this end, WWF Greece and Vouliwatch call citizens, stakeholders and organizations to take action and contribute in the development of a climate law proposal, through an open and collaborative process. The draft proposal is now available for public consultation in www.klimatikosnomos.gr, and all interested parties can comment or edit the text or exchange views.

The first draft currently under consultation is the result of work from WWF Greece colleagues who researched existing climate legislation in EU member states, with support and strategic guidance from a dedicated scientific council. In early 2021, more than 2,500 people participated in an opinion survey aiming to inform the drafting process. The results of the survey made it clear that climate crisis and biodiversity loss must be addressed immediately to prevent an uncontrolled climate collapse. 

The draft under consultation stands on two main pillars:

1. Science sets the bar of ambition of climate action. Thus, the draft law:

• Sets a legally binding target of achieving climate neutrality within the period 2040 - 2045.
• Establishes a 5-year climate budget until 2045, drawing from experience of the UK Climate Change Act. The climate budget is linked to the National Energy and Climate Plan.
• Provides five-year cycles of evaluation and upgrading of objectives, measures and policies, in order to better align with the electoral cycles. Five year cycles allow timely correction of possible discrepancies and take into account the latest political, technological and scientific developments.
• Proposes legally binding targets by 2030 both for the increase of the renewable energy share in the energy mix, as well as the protection and restoration of nature.
• Establishes an independent climatic authority with strong responsibilities consisting of experts selected with scientific capacity as the main criteria.

2. Strong societies are best placed to deal with crises when empowered with transparent and participatory systems. WWF Greece and Vouliwatch turned this conviction into practice, by submitting the draft proposal for a climate law for an open consultation with every interested citizen and stakeholder. According to the proposal under consultation:

• Climate stability is a common good and its guarantee is enshrined as the right of every citizen.
• Strict regulations are provided for active and passive publicity, citizens' access to justice, as well as adequate consultation deadlines, the outcome of which is taken into account or rejected after adequate documentation.
• A Standing social consultation and engagement forum is established, serving also as a platform for information, dialogue and conciliation between policymakers, investors and citizens.
• Objectives for the participation of citizens in the energy transition are explicitly set, while attention is given to the most vulnerable social groups.

"Millions of people around the world are calling for ambitious action to protect the climate and biodiversity. Today we are reaching out to the citizens of our country, sending a message that this decade will be the decade of action that put humanity in course to reach ecological transformation to climate neutrality", said Dimitris Ibrahim, climate and energy policy officer at WWF Greece.

"From our experience at Vouliwatch, we are optimistic that citizens will embrace this open discussion and collaboration initiative on such an urgent and important issue as climate change, and that it will be a shining example of participatory democracy with the help of digital technology. for Greece and Europe ", added Stefanos Loukopoulos, Vouliwatch Director.

Just six months before the crucial UNFCCC, to be held in Glasgow, the initiative aims to step up the public debate in Greece on the climate crisis. The final draft law is planned to be completed well in advance, in the context of a broad and substantive consultation, aspiring to become the basis for a pioneering Greek law.

Notes to editors:

• Visuals available HERE . Credits: Marianna Plomariti / WWF Greece.

You can read here the explanatory report of the draft law proposal.