1. CLIMATE CHANGE
By Nikos Chatzis and Stelios
Chatzipanagiotou

2. Definition
Climate change is a significant and
lasting change in the statistical
distribution of weather patterns over
periods ranging from decades to
millions of years. It may be a change in
average weather conditions, or in the
distribution of weather around the
average conditions (more or fewer
extreme weather events).

3. The implications
Limiting warming to 2 ° C, has been recognized by
the entire scientific community, but also by the
European Union as a prerequisite to avoid the
worst effects of climate change.
We are already seeing serious negative impacts on
ecosystems and human populations - such as
melting sea ice in the Arctic - even with the current
increase in temperature at 0,8 ° C compared to preindustrial levels. These could cause positive
feedbacks that will lead to even greater warming
and further dramatic effects on ecosystems of the
planet.

4. 1.
2.
3.
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In coming decades, water supplies stored in
glaciers and snowy areas will decrease causing
water shortages in more than 1 billion people
The 20% and 30% of all living organisms on the
planet will face increased risk of extinction if
global average global temperature surpassed
1,5-2,5 ° C.
At lower latitudes, especially in arid and tropical
regions, even small increases in temperature of
about 1 ° C - 2 ° C, is expected to increase the
risk of hunger.
After 2000 many millions of people will be
affected by flooding to homes and businesses
because of rising sea levels each year. At
particular risk are densely populated areas, and
areas that are at a low altitude with limited
adaptability.

5. The impact on Greece
The wealth of Greece is inseparably linked with
the climatic conditions. The hot dry summer
climate combined with the thousands of
kilometers of coastlines attract tourists from
around the world. The warm summers,
combined with mild wet winters, favoring the
development of agriculture as an integral part of
the economy. Under the same climatic
conditions, thousands of hectares of forest
cover country and host a wide
biodiversity. Today this natural wealth is under
great pressure from population growth and
uncontrolled development. Global warming will
cause even great pressure on our country. UN
study shows that Greece, like the entire
Mediterranean is among the 18 "hottest" spots
on earth, which will face the biggest problems
because of the increasing climate change.

6. The investigation of WWF Greece in cooperation with
the National Observatory of Athens, entitled "The future
of Greece" attempts a prediction for the climatic
conditions in Greece in the period 2020-2050, almost
tomorrow.
According to the survey results, the existing frustrations
of residents in cities is going to intensify. Residents of
cities such as Thessaloniki, Patras, Larissa and Lamia
will be subject up to 20 more days of heat. Meanwhile, in
Lamia, Larissa, Volos, Thessaloniki and Athens, the total
rainfall will decrease, but is expected to grow by 10-20%
extreme rainfall. In other words seem to increase the risk
for both flood events and spreading suburban forest
fires.
Significantly affected and tourist destinations of our
country. From 5 to 15 more are the days with heat in the
relevant departments of tourism, and will increase further
and the nights where the temperature will not fall below
20oC, especially on islands, such as Rhodes and
Chania.

7. The ten largest rural districts in the country will
also receive a lot of pressure from climate
change, leading to increased heat days, the
consecutive days without rain, reduced winter
rainfall and thus greatly increase the risk of
fire. For example, in Evia is more than 25
additional dry days than today, Serres and
Larissa will live 20 more days of heat, while in
Heraklion and Pella in the winter rainfall
decrease by 15%. It also presents an increased
risk for new land desertification and decrease in
water availability.
Climate change is expected to pose a big test
and National Parks, and an increase in days with
high risk of fire occurrence in all the Parks in the
country.

8. Furthermore, when the report was published
in 2011, the Bank of Greece notes that the
economic costs of climate change for our
country is extremely high: in the worst case
scenario, the total cost for the Greek
economy in 2100 amounted to 701 billion ,
more than double our national debt in
2009. The authors of the report noted that the
adoption of policies that protect the climate
is the most economical option
available. Since Greece dramatically reduce
emissions under the corresponding global
effort, the overall cost is reduced by € 265
billion to € 436 billion.

9. Causes climate change
The cause of climate change is the excessive
use of fossil resources such as coal and lignite,
oil and natural gas, the burning of which
releases huge amounts of CO 2 into the
atmosphere. In this way the 'blanket' GHG
covering the Earth holds more and more energy
which, in turn, increases the average
temperature of the planet.
The human intervention in the natural cycle of
CO 2 over the last 150 years has been
crucial. The reckless burning of fossil fuels and
livestock farming contribute to the emission of
methane, combined with deforestation which
absorb greenhouse gases, have irreparably
disrupt the balance in the cycle of CO 2.

10. The large amount of CO 2 which is now concentrated
in the atmosphere, has contributed to the warming
of the planet, while the speed at which this increase
occurs is significantly faster than any natural
process. The result is the inability of natural systems
to adapt to the new circumstances.
It is clear that global warming does not necessarily
mean warmer climate for everyone in all regions of
the world. As the planet warms, the climate change
system, contributing to the increase of extreme and
unpredictable weather. The result? Other areas will
be warmer, others colder, while depending affected
and humidity levels of planet-sometimes creating
drought conditions, sometimes too much rainfall.

11. Adapting to climate change
Greece has not yet designed a national
strategy to adapt to climate change,
though geographically belonging to one of
the most vulnerable areas of the
Mediterranean. Adaptation of Greece is a
necessity and not a luxury. The
dependence of our country upon the
natural environment is extremely large to
be ignored, even in conditions of
economic crisis.

12. THE END