A speech at the “Climate Neutral, Resilient and Smart Central Macedonia” conference, co-organized by the Central Macedonia Region and the Central Macedonia Department of the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE/TKM), was delivered yesterday by the Regional Governor of Central Macedonia, Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
Mr. Tzitzikostas referred to the effects of climate change and the actions and measures to better protect Central Macedonia, while he made special reference to the scientifically documented action plan, prepared by the competent TEE/TKM working group, utilizing all the new data of technology, innovation and research.
“This truly great work is very important for the present and the future of our country and both the members of the working group and the President of TEE/TKM Giorgos Tsakoumis deserve warm congratulations. This work is proof that the constant close cooperation we have developed is producing results for our fellow citizens”, the Regional Governor pointed out.
In the positive messages in the field of the Environment in Central Macedonia, “from which we can draw optimism, strength and motivation to do more”, the Regional Governor highlighted a number of projects and actions of the Region, noting among others the following:
-Today our country leads the European Union in Renewable Energy Sources.
– Today, the Regions and Municipalities of Europe implement 90% of the European Union’s actions for the environment and to deal with climate change.
-Today, the Region of Central Macedonia, according to an OECD report, is the first Region of Greece in terms of the goal of reducing greenhouse gases for 2030, even calculating that we have achieved a 55% reduction.
At the same time, as Mr. Tzitizkostas mentioned, a network of actions has already been implemented:
– We put an end to the environmental degradation of the western coastal front of Thessaloniki.
-We are implementing the first hyperlocal Metropolitan Park in western Thessaloniki, in the Municipality of Pavlos Melas and we have completed hundreds of interventions with the creation of parks and green cores in the cities of Central Macedonia.
-We created the Observatory for Integrated Management of the Coastal Front of the entire Central Macedonia.
-We are getting a digital data collection hub on the vulnerability and erosion of our coasts.
-We have a fully upgraded and equipped network of atmospheric pollution measuring stations, to which we have even added new stations.
-We are installing hundreds of sensors, weather stations and telemetry systems in public buildings and parks, on bridges, rivers and streams, throughout Central Macedonia to monitor on a 24-hour basis climate and environmental indicators and the effects of climate change. We have our own Environmental Observatory.
– We have implemented anti-flood projects that shield 30 areas and in the new NSRF we will use 120 million euros for new projects.
-We are upgrading energy-efficient public buildings, hospitals and schools.
– We finance investments to reduce the energy consumption of small and medium enterprises.
-We are promoting electrification, with charging stations and electric vehicles and garbage trucks in the Municipalities.
-We invest in the circular economy and sustainable mobility.
-We support the creation of new units utilizing Renewable Energy Sources.
However, Mr. Tzitzikostas set two main issues as a priority for dealing with the effects of climate change:
“The first is the time we don’t have. Now is the time to act to tackle climate change and meet climate targets. The second is to understand that long-term planning, when the problem is already here and acute, is not enough. The armoring of regions, cities, countryside to protect the life and property of our fellow citizens is an absolute priority for all levels of administration, for all levels of government. Necessary resources for large-scale flood protection projects must be secured. And this must be done at the European level, because neither the Municipalities, nor the Regions, nor the Central State currently have the resources they really need. The resources currently available are not sufficient for major flood prevention interventions, which must be made mainly in the built-up area, in cities and urban centers, where the existing flood protection infrastructure is insufficient, because it is now obsolete and does not meet today’s conditions, but they were built with the data of the 50s and 60s. We need big projects, we need them now, and Europe must ensure the necessary resources”.
Concluding his speech, Mr. Tzitzikostas emphasized: “We have done a lot, we will continue to do even more, because a lot more needs to be done. The climate crisis takes big steps every year. Bigger than even scientists expected. So we are called to make leaps. In my European capacity I have already referred to the need to increase resources for the construction of anti-flooding projects especially in the Mediterranean basin. And beyond the resources, we need in our country to make all the necessary institutional changes and of course an overall clarification of responsibilities. And at the same time, I want to assure you that the Region of Central Macedonia will continue with the same intensity and with the same consistency the projects and actions to protect the environment and deal with climate change. And in this battle we are all together. We are together in our common goal for the Macedonia of 2030, a modern, smart, green and above all human Region”
Tags: Tzitzikostas conference climate change Central Macedonia Central Macedonia region country reduce greenhouse gases
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