Etudes par pays volume 2, PDF, 346 p., 1,4 Mo - Femise

11873_2002 Study D2: Poverty, Informal Sector, Health and Labour
Concerning the environment, the per capita emissions of carbon dioxide
from a level that was 10 per cent lower than the European average, in 1990,
today it exceeds substantially that average, despite the lower than the
European per capita consumption of energy. This is due to the heavily
polluting energy mix of lignite for electricity production and the
conventional oil use in transportation. Air pollution becomes at times severe
in the larger cities, Athens being the champion. Due to the industrial activity
and the densely populated city, in conjunction with the great number of
circulating automobiles compared to the capacity of the streets, Athens
suffers considerably from air pollution, which has implications to the health
of its inhabitants, particularly those suffering from respiratory problems. It
also damages the Greek antiquities, primarily Parthenon. The city’s
industrial wastes and sewage find an outlet in the gulf of Saronikos in the
vicinity of Athens (Clogg, 2003). It is true that as a result of an antipollution
policy, poisonous air emissions have been reduced in recent years, but
Greece is still far above the European average.
In respect to solid wastes, Greece has doubled in ten years’ time the
production of wastes, which is though lower than in Europe as a whole.
Furthermore, the increased use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture
deteriorates the water horizon, whereas industry has a rather low share in air
pollution, i.e. 17 per cent in carbon dioxide and 16 per cent in sulphur
dioxide emissions.
It is evident, that the energy sector has the main responsibility for all
categories of pollutants. Overall, the ratio of energy consumption to GDP is
about double the European average, indicating the non-efficient use of
energy in the Greek economy (Kathimerini, 20.6.2003, referring to a report
of the National Center of Environment).
Regarding the social consciousness on environmental issues and the reaction
of people to environmental problems, a recent opinion poll conducted at the
New York College in Athens showed that these issues are placed seventh in
terms of importance on a priority list of contemporary problems.
Environment is preceded by unemployment, the economy, education,
criminality, drugs and poverty. Emphasis was given in this poll on the lack
of adequate information concerning the nature and the various aspects of
environmental degradation, as well as the factors that cause it. A majority of
73 per cent of the interviewees are of the opinion that despite the efforts
made by the state, the environment continues to deteriorate, due primarily to
industrial activity and to a lesser extent the automobiles. The poll further
showed that the participation of youth in environmental organizations is
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