PM briefs US special rep for climate John Kerry on sidelines of Mideast Green Initiative summit in Riyadh

According to reports, Mitsotakis briefed the former US Secretary of State over Athens initiative for a “green” transition and achieving EU environmental goals for 2030, especially in terms of renewable energy sources, speaking ahead of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, in Glasgow later this month.

The pro-reform and pro-business Mitsotakis government has also backed efforts to reduce C02 emissions in the ocean-going shipping sector, where Greek-controlled fleet is among the world’s largest, and recently signed an agreement to link up with Egypt’s electricity grid via an underwater cable in the eastern Mediterranean, thereby marking the first such connection in the wider region between North Africa and Europe.

In again burnishing his eco-friendly credentials at an overseas venue, and in this case one of the world’s biggest sovereign investors, Mitsotakis said Greece wants to be one of the first Mediterranean countries to introduce a specific framework for offshore wind park power production, adding: “hope to have the relevant draft legislation ready for public deliberation in the next few weeks.”

The target, he said, is for two giga-watts of power produced by such offshore wind parks.

In throwing out a monetary figure at the summit, the Greek premier said plans for “green” and recyclable forms of energy in the country, part of the strategic goal of a “green transition”, exceed 25 billion euros.

Finally, he told participants – and would-be investors – that if interest increases in exploiting the prospect of hydrogen as an energy source in Europe, then Greece would most definitely welcome such exports and guarantee the transport of the latter to the rest of the European market.