You may not hear about it, but #Greece is in a pivotal period regarding sea health, #tourism and #climatejustice .
During the lockdown, a set of anti-environmental laws passed, allowing fossil-fuel companies to start harmful research activities throughout the country, both on land and seas. Yes, there is probably natural gas in Greece, so why not drill everywhere?
The laws were promoted as a "modernization of environmental regulations" and cover many different subjects, here's the juice:
1. You can start searching for fossil fuels by announcing it to two state bodies, no permission needed,
2. Natura 2000 regions are practically no longer protected from drilling and other activities,
3. Local authorities no longer have a voice on how their lands will be utilized,
4. If you want to invest in wind parks, you are encouraged to build anything larger than 150MW (the law is not very clear about this one).
#Greenpeace and #WWF are working together to stop this. Today 4 Greenpeace activists were arrested for protesting peacefully outside the Ministry of the Environment and Energy.
Outside the Ministry: the banner reads "Mr Hatzidakis, natural wealth or oil?"
Kostis Hatzidakis is the current Minister for the Environment and Energy.
