A sharp reduction in carbon emissions by the country’s power company PPC through limiting the use of lignite-powered plants would put at risk the viability of the nation’s energy system, Environment Minister Giorgos Souflias said yesterday.
Souflias ruled out the possibility of state-controlled PPC stopping the use of lignite-powered plants by saying that this would take the country back 80 years and harm national interests.
“It is a major issue that Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and EU Commissioner (Stavros) Dimas have been informed about,” Souflias told a parliamentary committee.
PPC is Greece’s single largest producer of carbon output, contributing 40 percent of total national greenhouse gases.
According to rules set by the EU, Greece is obligated to cut emission growth by 25 percent over the 2008-2012 period.
EU goals also specify that 150 of Greece’s most polluting industries must also reduce their emissions by 8.9 percent – a target Greece is challenging.
“The issue of climate change due to the greenhouse affect is undoubtedly the most important problem in the world community. We have a complete policy on this issue,” said Souflias, who believes that the weight of emission cuts should not be lifted only by industry.
In regards to adopting environmentally friendly energy sources, such as wind energy and natural gas, the minister said Greece will meet national goals despite a slow start. Well before 2020, 20 percent of the country’s energy will come from either wind parks or solar energy, Souflias said.
(Kathimerini, 22/03/2007)