Coastal zones: environmental groups call on Greek government to repeal controversial provisions

Eight environmental groups are calling on the Greek government to withdraw controversial provisions of a coastal zone law that was submitted to a parliamentary committee on Wednesday. The bill undermines environmental protections and the national policy plan for climate resilience.

According to the groups, the bill does not provide any meaningful positive measures for effective protection and management of the coastal zone, and critical provisions related to adaptation to climate change are missing (for example, there is no mention of other natural or man-made risks threatening the coastal and riparian zones, flood risks).

The bill also does not provide the necessary guarantees and does not improve the system for the immediate dismantling of illegal buildings along the coastline, and the ban on transfer to concession has not been lifted “small coastal areas” (less than 5 meters in length or width, or less than 150 square meters in area). Now even such small isolated beaches will be given to hotels for use.

“In times of climate crisis, healthy coastlines provide a protective shield for people and economies in the face of increasingly frequent disasters. Protecting coastal and marine ecosystems is the most effective and efficient tool for climate change resilience. Unfortunately, in Greece, coastal ecosystems are treated as land for housing and tourism construction”, – said eight groups.

“Scientific knowledge and the recent past have shown that continuous coastal degradation can only lead to dramatic disasters and incalculable costs to the national economy in the form of compensation that must be paid subsequently.”

The bill eliminates the already inadequate 30-meter setback zone from the shoreline, the groups explained. A gap of at least 100 meters is required by all countries that have signed the Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean, which has been ratified by the European Union but not by Greece.

They also called on the government to clearly prohibit any individual or enterprise responsible for illegal construction from applying for government assistance, subsidies and other economic incentives.

The statement was signed by WWF Greece, Greenpeace, MEDASSET, Society for the Protection of Prespa, Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, Hellenic Ornithological Society, Callisto and the Society for Ecological Recycling.

Source link