“As the figures now show, if we had not abandoned lignite, the additional cost to consumers over 2020-2026, given how electricity prices have evolved in the meantime, would have soared to €7.1 billion. That is how much more the previous model would have cost Greek consumers — a model that some people still defend today”.
This was the point made by Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, speaking today at the main conference of “Kifissia Climate Week 2026”, organised by the Municipality of Kifissia at the initiative of Mayor Vassilis Xypolytas and in collaboration with the Goulandris Natural History Museum.
“One of the first initiatives we undertook”, he added, “was the phase-out of lignite. It was a difficult decision, as some areas had been economically and socially tied to lignite activities for decades. We are therefore pressing ahead with the Just Development Transition programme, with more than €2 billion in funding for investment, business and employment in lignite regions”.
The growth of renewables
“We also accelerated the licensing of renewables. The results are now clear. In 2025, 55% of the country’s electricity came from renewable energy sources. Emissions from power generation fell by 50% between 2019 and 2024. Greece was also a net exporter of electricity in both 2024 and 2025. With more renewables, we are competitive and able to export”.
Mr Hatzidakis also referred to the savings generated by the island interconnections, which also have a significant environmental footprint. “Projects that had been discussed for decades have now been completed or are under way. The Crete-Peloponnese interconnection was completed in 2021, and the major Crete-Attica interconnection is now fully operational”.
“The Cyclades interconnection is also nearing completion. Work has begun on the interconnections for the North Aegean and the Dodecanese, with the first tenders for the cables completed. Once these projects are finished, consumers’ annual savings on PSO charges will reach €1 billion”.
Energy efficiency and social leasing
“The conclusion is that not only were we right to take all these initiatives, but that if we had not taken them, the two energy crises would have cost households even more”, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed.
Referring to energy-efficiency programmes, he said that 14 energy-upgrade programmes had been implemented over the past five years, with more than €3 billion in funding. Further resources have also been secured from the Social Climate Fund, the Modernisation Fund and through the escape clause for initiatives of this kind.
He also announced that social leasing of electric cars would get under way in early 2027, a significant innovation that has already been successfully tried in France. “Through the Social Climate Fund, with a budget of €165 million, around 15,000 families with high transport needs and financial difficulties will be able to lease an electric car for four years, with monthly payments of up to €150, compared with around €400 for standard leases”, he said.
Forests and urban planning
On initiatives to protect the natural heritage, he highlighted, among other things, measures to protect Natura areas; the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency, which replaced a fragmented system of 36 bodies managing protected areas; progress on forest maps; and the AntiNero programme for forest prevention and clearance work.
“A total of €667 million was allocated through the AntiNero programme between 2022 and 2026, compared with annual spending of €5 million to €20 million on prevention projects up to 2019”, he said. “By the end of September 2026, more than 917,000 stremmas of forest across the country had been cleared and restored, while the National Reforestation Plan, launched in 2020, had advanced new reforestation across 57,000 stremmas”.
On urban planning, he said that Local and Special Urban Plans for 600 municipal units across the country would soon go out to public consultation. On the transfer of development rights, he stressed: “I want to make two things clear. First, we are consulting on Development Rights Reception Zones. Consultation means that no decision has been taken”.
“A text is put forward for discussion to provide a starting point and food for thought; decisions are then taken after the views of municipalities, local bodies and every citizen have been carefully considered. Moreover, the government has clearly stated, in an official announcement by the Ministry of Environment, that development rights will not be transferred from one municipality to another”.
“The discussion is confined entirely to transfers within individual municipalities. So any concerns are not based on the facts and are certainly not related to the government’s position — a position that, as Deputy Prime Minister, I express in the strongest possible terms. We are all available to discuss this with you, and above all the ministry responsible. But there is no reason for concern”.
Waste and water shortages
On waste management, he said: “Greece had fallen significantly behind other European countries. In 2019, just three modern Waste Treatment Plants were operating and five were under construction. Today, 14 facilities are operating, 28 are under construction and another 10 are at the tender stage”.
“At the same time, existing facilities are being upgraded into modern Recovery and Recycling Units. But we need to go further still, and above all move faster. Despite the progress made, Greece still has significant ground to make up compared with Europe’s most advanced countries”.
Finally, on water management, he said that although this year has been better, EYDAP had already begun using the Mavrosouvala and Oungroi boreholes, increasing reserves by around 85 million cubic metres. “At the same time, work is under way to tap additional reserves from the Boeotian Kifissos if needed. Meanwhile, projects worth around €400 million have already started to reduce leaks in every municipality in Attica and improve the security of the water supply system. Our aim is to ensure that Attica has sufficient water for all the years ahead”.
“Protecting the environment is our duty”, the Deputy Prime Minister concluded, “to our conscience and to our children. It is a duty that transcends every political party. Things could take a very negative turn internationally over the next 20 to 30 years. Every genuinely progressive citizen should take an active part in this fight”.