The European Investment Bank’s (EIB) seventh annual climate survey reveals that nearly nine out of ten Greeks acknowledge the need to adapt their lifestyle to cope with the effects of climate change. This highlights the significance Greeks place on the impact of climate change.
The survey, which was conducted in August 2024, gathered the views of over 24,000 respondents across the EU and the US including the responses of 1,000 Greek individuals.
Interestingly enough, the results show that Greek respondents rank climate change as the second most pressing challenge facing their country, surpassed only by the cost of living.
Specifically, 98% of the Greeks surveyed stated that the country must to adapt to climate change, with 60% saying that priority should be given to these adjustment measures.
Additionally, 90% expressed the view that investments on climate adaptation should be implemented now to avoid any higher costs in the near future.
The survey further revealed that personal experiences with extreme weather are prevalent, with 94% of Greek respondents having experienced at least one extreme weather event in the past five years. Of these 61% have been affected by extreme heat waves, 46% by wildfires and 34% by drought.
The consequences of these extreme weather events are severe; with a striking 86% of Greek individuals reporting that they have faced at least one direct such consequence due to extreme weather, which is 18 points above the EU average of 68%. Greek respondents said they experienced power outages or disruptions in energy supply, while others reported suffering from damage to forests or areas near their homes.
This year, Greece once again faced several severe weather events, such as storms which brought heavy rain and lightning, followed by a prolonged period of adverse weather conditions, including extreme summer heat which contributed to a major wildfire near Athens in August, leading to widespread warnings, evacuations, and significant disruptions nationwide.
Scientists warn that the cost of these disasters is expected to increase. According to a report from the European Environment Agency, Europe is currently the fastest-warming continent globally, and extreme weather events are anticipated to become more frequent as global temperatures rise.
