The Culture Ministry has presented a new National Strategy aimed at safeguarding Greece’s cultural heritage from the effects of climate change. The initiative will be funded through a €22 million grant from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, according to ekathimerini.com
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni introduced the strategy, which was created in collaboration with the University of Athens and the National Hellenic Research Foundation. The long-term plan runs through 2050 and sets progress checkpoints every five years. As part of the initiative, adaptation plans are expected to be developed for 40 archaeological sites by 2030.
“Our goal is for it to serve as a reference framework for all involved state institutions regarding the protection of monuments and archaeological sites,” Mendoni said.
The strategy focuses on strengthening protection measures as climate-related threats grow. Authorities say rising temperatures, extreme weather events and environmental changes are increasing risks for historic monuments and archaeological locations across the country.
Climate Crisis Minister Yannis Kefalogiannis highlighted the growing pressure these sites face from wildfires and severe weather conditions. He also announced that the two ministries are jointly preparing a new fire-protection regulation specifically for archaeological areas.
Officials say the strategy aims to create a coordinated approach among government institutions, ensuring that cultural heritage sites are better protected from climate-related damage in the coming decades.
Source: ekathimerini.com
