Mitsotakis to Bloomberg – Citizens shouldn’t bear green transition’s costs

Greece has already taken measures valued at 500 million euros protect households from the energy crisis and skyrocketing natural gas prices, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told Bloomberg on Monday.

In an interview on the sidelines of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), held in Glasgow through November 12, Mitsotakis underlined “the last thing we want is for citizens to be disappointed by policies against climate change … citizens should not have to bear the costs of a green transition.”

Moreover, he again confirmed his government’s commitment to meet an EU goal for a reduction of “greenhouse” gas emissions by 55 percent until 2030, as well as Greece’s decision to end lignite exploitation by 2028, while optimistic that this goal can be achieved by 2025.

Finally, the pro-reform and pro-business Mitsotakis said Greece wants to be a trailblazer in the exploitation of renewable energy sources in the Mediterranean, making a particular reference to offshore wind parks.