In recent years, humanity has witnessed extreme weather events and disasters that were unimaginable only five years earlier. The average temperature on the planet is 1.1°C higher than at the beginning of the industrial revolution, and it is rising every decade. What is to blame? The greenhouse gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity, intensive cattle farming and the destruction of natural ecosystems, including forests and the oceans, are perhaps the main culprits. Rather than learning from the mistakes of the past and abandoning all of the dirty habits that have brought the climate to the verge of collapse, the international community seems unable to react. The voluntary commitments made by states in the context of the Paris Agreement proved to be well short of the critical circumstances. Under the current commitments, the increase in the average temperature on the planet will exceed +3°C by the end of this century, which will take us into uncharted territory of rapid and extremely unpredictable impacts. We are the first generation who know this, and the last generation that can act.

In order to emerge from the climate and ecological crisis and stop human civilization and nature from collapsing around us, we need to take ambitious measures for the environment and a stable climate. We need to give up all the habits – such as fossil fuels – that are polluting and destroying the planet and set our sights on a clean future. This is why WWF Greece, based on the most up-to-date scientific data, is pressing governments to adopt ambitious policies for climate protection, for net zero-emissions economic activities, and for renewable energy production. We are proposing clean energy solutions, promoting specific alternative activities for economies that are dependent on coal, and fighting for climate justice.

With the aim of protecting Greece from the catastrophic repercussions of the climate crisis, we are launching a public dialogue on climate. In partnership with Vouliwatch and with the support of experts and scientists, we are taking the initiative to create the first open and inclusive proposal for a climate law. Citizens and organizations can participate actively in this initiative from the very outset. Our goal is to complete our proposal and submit it to the Hellenic Parliament ahead of the Glasgow UN Climate Conference in November 2021.