There’s an Urgent Need for Climate Journalism in Greece: A Call to Action
It’s about preparing for the next big crisis.
What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you listen to “Greece”? Probably its most popular product: The combo of its seas and sun.
For a local like myself, the buzzword is a Greek word: “Crisis.” After multiple crises in 2010 (financial) and 2015 (refugee), we need to prepare for the next one that’s already here: the climate crisis.
The Bad and the Good News
Greece faces an unprecedented environmental crisis as devastating wildfires, floods, and heatwaves raged across the country in 2023. One month in 2024, January 2024, was the hottest in a decade. Greece smashed nine climate records in 2023, according to a recent report by Climatebook, a website dedicated to the subject, with expert contributors.
Greece also has a very dull media landscape. In particular, no publication focuses on environmental journalism; only individual reporters who report sporadically on specific issues for their publications. But this isn’t enough.
The good news is that Greeks have been experiencing climate change and are aware of the problem, but they aren’t informed enough to tackle the challenge locally. A survey was conducted on May 6–15 on a sample of 2,000 people aged between 18 and 64. 95% of Greeks agree that the climate is changing, with more than half believing that these changes pose a severe threat to humanity, and 58% believe its impact to be less severe at the local level.
And some facts by the 2022–2023 European Investment Bank (EIB) Climate Survey
- 66% of Greek respondents favor stricter government measures to impose a change in personal behavior (75% of people under 30).
- 66% are in favor of stricter government measures to impose a change in personal behavior (75% of people under 30).
Also Greece has an ambitious climate policy that aims for a zero-carbon society by 2050, in line with the targets set by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and the EU Green Deal.
Some Context
The raging infernos were the largest ever recorded within the European Union. A firefighting plane crashed while in action, live on national TV, killing its crew. The aircraft was much older than its young crew. Now, we are buying seven Canadair 515s that will arrive in a few years.
Floods hit the heart of rural Greece, where most agricultural goods are produced, erasing villages and a whole Army Air Force base from the map. The National Bank of Greece estimated that the floods will cost us 38 billion euros over the next four years, around 5% of our GDP.
The victims of both disasters were at least 43. Some were migrants trapped in a forest near the northeastern border with Turkey when the wildfire hit. The NYT has done a great job of describing this story. Read here.
NBC wrote a great story about Greece being at war with climate change.
The cause of these catastrophic disasters is still being debated, mostly in the scientific community. Still, one thing is clear: Greece is in deep trouble with its climate, directly connected to its main revenue stream, tourism.
Scientists overwhelmingly attribute these extreme events to human-induced climate change, making it imperative that Greece and the world urgently address this issue.
One critical issue exacerbating Greece’s struggle to combat these climate issues, among other broader issues, is the country’s lack of dedicated journalism.
As Greece currently finds itself, a climate news desert means that citizens need more vital information about the link between climate change and devastating fires, hampering public awareness and action.
Climate and Each Aspect of Life
Covering Greece’s climate means covering a huge part of its economy. It’s called tourism, and it is one of Greece’s strongest revenue streams. Like many other things, tourism has developed organically and totally unstructured, massive industry. Thousands of workers rely on seasonal gigs, and local economies depend on them.
Covering climate change means covering labor, food, water, and lifestyle.
Every aspect of life is connected to climate. You don’t need me to tell you this.
Why Is Greece a Climate News Desert?
Like its tourism industry, Greece’s media were developed without any vision or mission to serve the public, and this is one of the main reasons why the country faces a serious problem with its media landscape.
One critical issue exacerbating Greece’s struggle to tackle climate change is the lack of impactful journalism within the country. Greece is a climate news desert, meaning citizens are deprived of vital information about the link between climate change and its results, hampering public awareness and action.
Take a look at what my friend Miguel Dobrich from Uruguay is doing. Uruguay is a country that’s very similar to Greece in many aspects and indeed Miguel has been pioneering some groundbreaking climate journalism exploring The Impact on Labor in the Coastal Zones of Uruguay, from East to West.
Why isn’t there a Greek name in the Climate Journalism Network by the Reuters Institute?
Why weren’t there any Greeks at the News Impact Summit about Climate Journalism in Lisbon?
What’s Missing?
Robust, quality climate reporting aimed towards millennials and Gen-Z that aims to connect, inform and inspire change.
A robust, solutions-oriented climate journalism initiative must be established in Greece to address this alarming gap.
Such an initiative would serve as a beacon of knowledge, providing the public with comprehensive and accessible information about climate change, its local impacts, and the steps individuals and communities can take to mitigate its effects.
The solution begins with fostering partnerships between media organizations, environmental experts, and policymakers to create a dedicated platform for climate journalism.
I’m talking about a platform that should disseminate up-to-date information on climate change and its implications for Greece and highlight specific challenges. It should emphasize the importance of sustainable practices and measures that can be taken to prevent and mitigate the devastating consequences of wildfires and other climate-related disasters.
Furthermore, investing in training and equipping journalists to report on climate issues is paramount. Journalists should be equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to accurately convey the science of climate change, its local impacts, and the personal stories of those affected.
This not only educates the public but also empowers individuals to demand action from their government and engage in sustainable practices themselves.
Solutions Journalism is key to this. Journalism should provide agency and hope to people. Tangible solutions and impact.
By creating a dedicated climate journalism initiative, Greece can take a significant step towards building public awareness and resilience in the face of climate change, ensuring a more sustainable and safer future for all its citizens.
The time to act is now, and the power of knowledge is the key to a brighter and more sustainable tomorrow.
A Call To Action
I’d love to talk to anyone who shares similar concerns and would like to take any action toward creating a digital publication covering the climate in Greece.
Especially if you are
- A journalist who would like to cover the beat
- A journalism funder who would like to know more
- Involved with climate activism.
Contact me on X or Linkedin or simply by emailing me at tassos @ athenslive . gr
I am looking forward to hearing from you, and who knows what will happen!
