Greece and UAE to Cooperate on Making Poros Next GR-eco Island

The Greek island of Poros.

Greece and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed to work together on transforming Poros into the country’s next GR-eco island during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) taking place in Dubai this week.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of COP28 between the Greek Environment and Energy Ministry and the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), which is the UAEs’ state-owned renewable energy company in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and UAE Industry and Advanced Technology Minister Sultan Al Jaber, who is also president-designate of COP28 climate talks and chairman of Masdar.

Masdar commits to financing green infrastructure projects on Poros as part of the Greek government’s ongoing GR-eco Islands initiative, which aims to establish sustainable and energy efficient island communities, address climate change and lead the way in sustainable development and innovation.

Al Jaber, who is also the UAE’s special envoy for climate change, and Mitsotakis committed to taking actions that will address climate change and underlined the importance of international cooperation.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (center), Greek Environment and Energy Minister Theodoros Skylakakis (second from left) and Greek Deputy Minister of Environment & Energy Alexandra Sdoukou (second from right) at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai. Photo source: Greek Environment and Energy Ministry

Mitsotakis also referred to the importance of technology and how it can help islands reach their climate neutrality goals before the rest of the country. “What we have also managed to do is to involve the local communities and make them understand that the green transition is actually a huge opportunity for them,” he said.

Among others the deal foresees, locally developed and installed renewable energy projects; the decarbonization of maritime transport by introducing a new electric ferry and converting existing small traditional passenger vessels to electric vessels; converting the island’s fleet into environmentally-friendly vessels; implementing  an integrated “zero waste” model focusing on sorting at the source that will achieve diversion of waste from landfill at a rate of more than 90 percent so that waste management on Poros towards a more circular economy thus achieving the objectives of the national waste management plan.

The two parties aim to finalize the details and time schedule of the projects in the coming months.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and UAE Industry and Advanced Technology Minister Sultan Al Jaber look on as Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi and Greek Deputy Minister of Environment & Energy Alexandra Sdoukou sign the agreement on transforming Poros into Greece’s next GR-eco island. Photo source: Greek Environment and Energy Ministry

Commenting on the agreement, Greek Environment and Energy Minister Theodoros Skylakakis said it will create added value for the Poros and benefits for the locals.

“The installation of a photovoltaic system, approximately 7MW, will cover a large part of the island’s annual energy needs. At the same time, with the first fully electric ferry, the conversion of the island’s means of transport (traditional boats, buses,), the installation of smart vehicle chargers, the island’s residents and visitors will gain immediate access to green and cheap energy for their transport needs,” he said.

“Given the remarkable solar and wind potential that Greece has, our goal is for renewable energy sources to be the country’s main source of power by 2030,” said Skylakakis.

“The innovative ‘GR-eco Islands’ initiative demonstrates that any country, region or island can help triple the global capacity of renewable energy sources towards a fair energy transition. Greece is a positive example for the world in terms of preserving natural habitats through green infrastructure projects and sustainable development actions,” said Al Jaber, adding that Greece was a “strategic partner” and an “interesting” investment destination.

Poros is the third island to be included in the GR-eco Islands program after Chalki and Astypalea. The program foresees the development of the first smart energy and green islands in the Mediterranean.