Greece at the UN Climate Change Conference in Poznań

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Today the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference in Poznań, (December 1-12) concludes with the participation of 192 United Nations member states and representatives from international organisations and NGOs. The purpose of the conference is to lay the foundations for the conclusion of a global climate treaty which will succeed the Kyoto protocol. The final agreement is expected to be signed in Copenhagen in 2009. Member states are called to agree upon specific targets and deadlines to curtail carbon emissions, a matter which is directly linked to the course of their economic activity. The conference has set out the goal of reducing carbon emissions by 60-80% by the year 2050. Addressing the conference, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for global solidarity on climate change and talked about a new “Green Deal,” while the European Commissioner for Environment Stavros Dimas stressed that the European Commission aims at shifting the gear towards concrete negotiations and reducing carbon emissions by 20% by 2020. In regard to Greece, the Commissioner noted that Greece’s economy will benefit immensely should the country choose to comply fully with the European aspirations. European Commission: Commissioner’s speech in Poznan & UN Climate Change Conference 2008; Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Greek chair @ Human Security Network- Policy Papers on Climate Change; Secretariat General for Information: About Greece-Environmental Protection & About Brand Greece-Environmental Strategic Policies

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Greece’s Energy Deal with Gaz de France

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   A memorandum of understanding between France’s Gaz de France-Suez and the Greek Public Gas Corporation (DEPA) was signed on Friday in Paris. The deal will insure Greece’s procurement with liquid natural gas (LNG). Greece’s main supplier in liquid natural gas is Algeria, however, in view of the drastic surge in domestic natural gas demand estimated for the next three years rising to 1 billion cubic meters per year, DEPA seeks to establish diversified partnerships. The contract with the Algerian Sonatrach provides for a total supply from 0.51 to 0.68 billion cubic meters annually. Algerian LNG began flowing in Greece in February 2000. The synergy with Gaz de France will provide business opportunities for both corporations in the markets of Southeast Europe and East Mediterranean, as well as in the sector of natural gas deposits’ exploitation. Ministry of Development: Energy & Natural Resources; Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Energy Affairs; European Commission: Energy-Gas