Greece faces a wide range of environmental issues common to other countries in Southern Europe. Most notably the general effects global warming such as desertification and it's effect upon agriculture. As well as issues such as deforestation, waste management, general pollution (and its health impact), the effects of Acid Rain upon both public health and ancient sites as well as others. Southern Europe is a region of the European continent. ... Global mean surface temperatures 1850 to 2006 Mean surface temperature anomalies during the period 1995 to 2004 with respect to the average temperatures from 1940 to 1980 Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earths atmosphere and oceans in recent decades and the projected... Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to non-forest land use such as arable land, pasture, urban use, logged area or wasteland. ... The term acid rain is commonly used to mean the deposition of acidic components in rain, snow, dew, or dry particles. ...

Global warming

Global warming is of particular concern to all nations, however, it's effects are particularly worrying in Greece due to it's already hot climate and potential for desertification, as well as the effects of pollution upon urban areas.

Desertification and it's effects

Pollution

All of Greece is at risk of significant pollution damage, particularly the 3 major cities of Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras. With a population soaring over 4.5 million residents and four fifths centralized in the urban area of Athens (and the prefecture of Attica), air pollution becomes more of an danger than smog. Air pollution in Athens is not just affecting the environment but the health of the citizens. Increasing levels of dust, carbon monoxide, and gases (mostly formulated from human activities) have increased the chances of cardiovascular disease deaths begin to rise. Athens (Greek: Αθήνα - Athína) is the largest city and capital of Greece, located in the Attica periphery of central Greece. ... Thessaloniki, (Greek: Θεσσαλονίκη), is Greeces second-largest city and the capital of the Greek region of Macedonia and the periphery of Central Macedonia. ... Coordinates 38°15′ N 21°44′ E Country Greece Periphery West Greece Prefecture Achaea Province Greece Population 161,114 (2001 [1]) Area 125. ...

Researchers have found "for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m3) increase in black smoke, they observed a 4 percent increase of CVD deaths"^[1] showing a significant connection between air pollution and CVD around Athens. Worrisome for the safety of citizens the issues of intense air pollution is also taxing on the travel industry that Athens relies on to bring in capital for the country. Prior to the Olympics in 2004, government officials were apprehensive about the air pollution affecting the competitors and their performance, not that the games were necessarily at risk but the issue was highly negotiated by the board. Since 1950 the population of Athens has literally exploded out of proportion, increasing traffic, waste, and spreading of resources. Though the city municipality and Government are making funds available for environmental programmes now.

Waste management

Greece faces serious issues in regards to waste management, particularly in major urban centers such as Athens as well as in more tourist-frequented areas such as the Greek islands.

The municipality of Athens produces some 1,200 tons of garbage every day (Attica as a whole is estimated to produce 5,000 tons daily). Of this amount about 40 percent, or 480 tons, is packaging material, of which just 30 tons are recycled at the source near their location of production. The remaining 50 percent is sent to the recycling unit of the Union of Municipalities and Communities, where it is sorted to produce 225 tons of solid fuels, 60 tons of organic fertilizer, 400 kilos of aluminium and 125 tons of useless residue. The other 50 percent of the city’s daily garbage output goes to the saturated dump in Ano Liosia, though the city municipality has announced the large scale purchase of recycling bins for the city.^[2]

Acid rain

Acid rain is a widespread problem throughout the world, which affects not only agricultural aspects of the environment, as well as affecting the health of Greece's lakes, but also man-made buildings too. Acid rain has had a detrimental effect upon the Parthenon and other Ancient Monuments in Athens though a partial reconstruction process has been underway for some time now. The term acid rain is commonly used to mean the deposition of acidic components in rain, snow, dew, or dry particles. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Deforestation

Current policies

Greece is a signatory member of the Kyoto Protocol but there has been much sharp criticism from both the opposition PASOK party as well as the European Union towards Greece's failure to meet their intended targets for cutting carbon emissions, many have claimed that policies have not been tough enough and the protocol has not been implemented in full owing to large business interests, though the Government denies this. The Government has also attracted sharp criticism about it's waste management plans, as has the Mayor of Athens, though there are plans for new plants to be built to deal with the surplus of waste the city has. However, spatial planning is being promoted for the protection of resources from exhaustion, destruction and pollution and is part of a wider Government plan addressing Environmental issues. The Athens Metro has also relieved some pressure in terms of car pollution in Athens and the planned Thessaloniki Metro will undoubtedly help the situation there too. The municipality of Athens has also announced a plan to deal with pollution in the city, though the exact details are as yet unknown. Kyoto Protocol Opened for signature December 11, 1997 in Kyoto, Japan Entered into force February 16, 2005. ... Party logo The Panhellenic Socialist Movement, better known as PASOK (Greek: Πανελλήνιο Σοσιαλιστικό Κίνημα, Panellinio Sosialistiko Kinima, ΠΑΣΟΚ), is a Greek social democratic political party. ... Exhibition of archaeological finds that came to light during the construction of the project displayed at Metro station Syntagma, Athens. ... Thessaloniki Metro is a planned underground public transport system for Thessaloniki, Greece. ...

References

1. ^ Chrysohoou, Air pollution in Athens
2. ^ Kathimerini, 17/4/07