Focusing on European Commission’s Energy Plan

ARTICLE

This article sheds light on the European Commission’s Energy Plan and its impact on local ecosystems, biodiversity and local communities.

Sea waves break on wooden sea pier
Opening new horizons, utilising the wave energy.

Climate crisis is a threat to human survival. As its consequences become more severe, so does the danger for the vulnerable social groups to be left out. Therefore, it is imperative to build a new, timely strategy with sustainability as its key pillar to protect the planet, and, at the same time, to provide balanced development and equal opportunities without exclusions. At the end of 2019, Europe presented the European Green Deal1 , aiming at no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 and declaring that no person and no place will be left behind 2 .

Following the Green Deal, the European Commission has presented its energy plan 3 . It proposes the increase of Europe's offshore wind capacity from its current level of 12 GW to 60 GW by 2030 and to 300 GW by 2050, adding 40 GW of ocean energy and other emerging technologies such as floating wind and solar energy facilities, by 2050 4 .

Given that in Greece some groups have already expressed an interest on relevant offshore investments, 5 it is significant to respect the ecosystems, so that the goal of a climate-neutral Europe will not have a negative impact on the conservation of terrestrial and marine biodiversity. The European Commission has set and published the relevant framework E6 that must be applied in Greece too, without any delay.

In Greece, the case of wind farms, mostly in mountain areas, caused public reactions. They were installed without the necessary discussions and, more importantly, without any substantial benefits for the areas where they were set. This experience showed that the holistic analysis of existing data is important for the energy transition to take place fairly by minimising the environmental impact on the one hand and energy poverty on the other, so that, practically, the citizens become part of the new energy reality and not mere observers.

Given the large coastline of our country, the offshore wind system and the utilisation of wave and tidal energy, wherever they are combined, require special attention and respect. Even if it is not set on land, in a field or grassland, the chain of ecosystems clearly affects the planet and its inhabitants as a whole, in perpetuity.

The scientifically proven optimal location is in any case a crucial issue. It is important to respect completely: a) the Natura sites 7 , b) the migratory flows and the routes followed by birds, fish and mammals in general, c) the areas where species of marine flora and fauna are nesting, and especially the endangered and endemic ones. At each stage of every possible project (design, construction, operation, maintenance, restoration and end-of-life recycling) it is clear that the sensitive areas must be excluded. These areas shall be defined as such by groups of scientists (biologists, ichthyologists, ornithologists, marine scientists, environmentalists), which the State will listen carefully.

The dramatic experience of the pandemic and the role of scientists in it should not be forgotten. The planet's current state would certainly be different if the scientists’ voices were heard on the threat of climatic crisis, starting back in 1896 with the Nobel Prize-winner Svante Arrhenius 8 , or, at least, if measures were taken even from the very first Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in 19909 In Greece too, for more than 35 years, academic teachers and researchers, like Professor Yiannis Phillis, former Rector of the Technical University of Crete 10 , 11 , have focused their attention and published their work on the pollution's consequences and the dramatic climatic changes. They have also developed a practical mathematical model which can be used by decision-makers and politicians to measure the degree of sustainability of a country or an area and focus on the factors that affect it the most 12 .

At the same time, the case of the environmental association National Audubon Society in USA is indicative. Having a scientific network since 1905, its work is dedicated to the protection of birds and ecosystems. In articles written by Audubon it is stressed that, due to climate crisis, 2/3 of the birds in North America 13 (that is where the Audubon operates) are at risk, stating at the same time that the organisation is agreeable to the utilisation of wind energy 14 as long as a proper location is selected, as mentioned above. For their part, scientists analyse and suggest new ways of minimising the impact 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19   which is a necessary procedure before any political decision-making.
Furthermore, fishing, tourism, sea travelling, visual nuisances, noise, and electromagnetic fields are matters that can be predicted and dealt20 Innovative activities of ecological tourism can be developed, leading to tourists’ attraction 21 and creation of new ecosystems 22 , 23 . In any case, discussing with local communities and carrying scientific studies is truly necessary 24 , 25 .

There are notable examples from Europe which are worth studying in order to avoid mistakes or omissions and gain experience. The case of an offshore wind farm in Copenhagen is one of them. It is owned partly by the local utility and partly by the energy community “Middelgrundens Vindmøllelaug 26   (Middelgrunden Wind Turbine Cooperative)” with 8,553 citizens from all over Denmark as members 27 and participation to the European Federation of Citizen Energy Cooperatives (REScoop 28 ). Citizens' active involvement is a guarantee of energy democracy, transparency, joint decision-making, energy poverty tackling and public awareness-raising 29 . Such cooperation of energy communities with wider citizens’ participation, even at national/European level, could be examined in the case of Greece, in order to strengthen the idea while facilitating access to funding.

 

Θάλασσα, ήλιος και άνεμος σε αγαστή αρμονία, στο ξημέρωμα μιας νέας ημέρας
The sea, the sun and the wind in perfect harmony, at the dawn of a new day.

It is clear that whichever choice is made for energy production, the goal should be twofold: a) complete access to cheap electricity for everyone, so no one is left without meeting their energy needs, especially in times of crisis like the one experiencing nowadays and b) focus on the target for zero carbon footprint, primarily through resource and energy saving, by promoting the model of solidarity and modest prosperity, in opposition to the current egocentrism and reckless consumerism.

In addition, tackling Greece’s unemployment must be taken into account and, for that reason, incentives for domestic production of mild energy systems should be provided. The energy demands would be covered by utilising local resources and workforce, resulting products focused on domestic needs. In that way, the important field of cyclical, social and solidarity economy can be developed, a system that will respect the environment and operate after considering the sustainable life cycle analysis 30 .

'Protecting the natural environment, this common good, is a shared responsibility of all the inhabitants of the earth'
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

In conclusion, utilising the mild forms of energy, while respecting the environment and the human beings, can be an opportunity for real progress. But, in order for that to happen, everyone must understand –at the maximum extend– the importance of preserving the biodiversity without neglecting the needs of all people for decent living conditions. Leaving hydrocarbons behind can be an opportunity not only for the environment, which is already in desperate need, but for our social maturation too, at an international level. It could be achieved by easing tensions, as long as the principles of solidarity, coexistence and cooperation are promoted by the members of the neighbourhood, the village, the municipality, the region and beyond. In that way we could pass, as Makriyannis used to say, from “I” to “We” 31 , making a different revolution today, 200 years later... A “green revolution” because, as the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew points out: ”Protecting the natural environment, this common good, is a shared responsibility of all the inhabitants of the earth” 32 , 33 .

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