Environmental performance: trends and recent developments

During Greece’s long recession, emissions of greenhouse gases and most other air pollutants declined faster than GDP. As the economy recovers, it is a challenge to improve well-being, income and employment while reducing poverty and keeping environmental pressures low. Agriculture, transport, tourism and fisheries are putting pressures on biodiversity. This chapter provides a snapshot of key environmental trends in Greece over the past decade. It presents the main economic and social developments and reviews progress in reducing the energy and carbon intensity of the economy, in making the transition to a resource-efficient economy and in managing the natural asset base. It also summarises key policy developments in areas including energy and climate, air, water and waste.