Greek Ministries Sign MoC to Protect Sites, Monuments from Climate Effects

The Greek culture and climate change ministries moved one step closer to hands-on actions that will protect the country’s archaeological sites and monuments from the impact of climate change with a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC).

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and Climate Change and Civil Protection Minister Christos Stylianides signed the MoC which finalizes the working details of the collaboration discussed in a meeting last November between the two ministries.

Culture and climate change ministry officials met in November to discuss the details of the memorandum of cooperation.

More specifically, relevant departments of the two ministries will work together on the following: 

– re-assessment of current civil protection plans in view of emerging climate risks and the extent of threat to cultural heritage

– laying out the conditions that will be included – where required – in new civil protection plans or reviewing and enhancing current requirements 

– preparing priority civil protection plans for specific climate hazards and archaeological sites that will be indicated by the culture ministry

– documenting additional needs in infrastructure, equipment and human resources to support existing or new civil protection plans

– designing and carrying out priority exercises and emergency tests in high-risk areas

– organizing awareness-raising campaigns on the effects of climate change through programs and activities at museums, archeological sites, and schools

– working with the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and other international organizations to share knowhow and practices in order to gain experience in crisis management and emergencies in the area of cultural heritage.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni with Climate Change and Civil Protection Minister Christos Stylianides.

The two ministries agreed to set up a working group and appointed Professor Constantinos Kartalis, director of the Environmental Physics Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, to oversee the implementation of the MoC.