Nisyros Dialogues Mini Session 2023 «The Islands in the New Age»

"There is no more time. Time is a luxury, and we all need to act with initiatives, faster in order to deal with the extreme weather phenomena and the consequences of the climate crisis in our country", said the Deputy Minister of Energy and Environment Ms. Alexandra Sdoukou, at the same time expressing her regret for the devastating fires in Rhodes and in other areas of the country.

Speaking at the "Nisyros Dialogues" organized July 21-23 on the unspoiled island of Nisyros in the Dodecanese, by the "Georgios M. Mihalos Foundation - Sustainability of Nisyros" under the auspices of H.E. of the President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou and the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Bartholomaios, and moderated by anchor ERT, Mr. Fanis Papathanasiou, Ms. Alexandra Sdoukou referred to the example of the island of Halki and highlighted the exploitation opportunities that are presented for Nisyros and other arid islands in the context of the «GR-eco Islands» national initiative, which aims to deal with the climate crisis, and to transform the islands into exemplary prototypes of international green and sustainable development. Ms. Sdoukou explained that the implementation of this initiative is a major priority of the Ministry of Energy so that no part of the country is left behind in the green transition.

Mr. Konstantinos Kyranakis, Deputy Minister of Digital Governance, in his intervention added that in order to deal with the consequences of the climate crisis, the mobilization of the whole of society is urgently needed and highlighted the importance of initiatives such as that of the Association for the Protection and Development of Ymittos SPAY, of which he is member as a volunteer.

Mr. Kyranakis, referring to Insularity and the Digital Reform, emphasized the need to speed up the relevant procedures in order to create the necessary infrastructure for coverage on every island of the homeland. In this way, services will be strengthened that will facilitate the daily life of the inhabitants of Insular Greece, noted Mr. Kyranakis, who pointed out that it is a national goal to cover all critical islands by telecommunications providers of Greek companies.

In the context of the main discussion at the "Dialogues" dinner, moderated by the journalist Mr. Athanasios (Tom) Ellis, Director of the English edition of Kathimerini, the former Minister of the Environment, Energy and Climate Change Professor Mr. Yannis Maniatis, emphasized that the green transition is necessary, in order to prevent climate catastrophe.
Mr. Maniatis, speaking about the prospects of energy resources in our country, expressed optimism about the Ioannina field and the Katakolo field, while he said that southern Crete hides important deposits that can give Greece the opportunity to upgrade geostrategically and become gas supply hub for the entire EU.

The mayor of Hellinikon Argyroupoli, Mr. Ioannis Konstantatos, highlighted the key role that the Self-Administrative Civil Protection can play in the protection of the environment and in dealing with climate change, and referred to the cooperation model of Municipalities in the area around the Ymittos forest and the initiatives it has undertake himself in the capacity of the president of the Association for the Protection and Development of Hymettos, SPAY.

During the works of the "Nisyros Dialogues", Mr. Konstantatos, as president of SPAY, signed with president of the "Georgios M. Mihalos" foundation, Mr. Panagiotis G. Mihalos, a Memorandum of Cooperation for the provision of know-how, so that the Foundation will be the implementing body of initiatives for the Inter-Island and Internal Trail Networks and environmental protection, in Nisyros as well as in the rest of Insular Greece.

The former Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy and Climate Change, National Technical University (NTUA) Professor Mr. Konstantinos Mathioudakis, in his presentation highlighted the important steps that have been taken in our country in the field of energy transition with the utilization of Renewable Energy Sources.

The president of the Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency (N.E.C.C.A.), NTUA Professor Ms. Maria Papadopoulou, after referring to the importance of promoting initiatives throughout the country and particularly in Insular Greece, for the creation of trail networks in Municipalities, spoke about the importance of the cooperation of the State, the Local Government and the competent bodies, such as the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency together with Civil Society suck as our host, the Georgios M. Mihalos Foundation, because, as she noted, there is the necessary know-how in order for this effort to leave a mark in dealing with the climate crisis, although, as she said, it is a "difficult battle that resembles a marathon".

The Deputy Mayor of Kaisarianis, Mr. Manos Kitsellis, a member of the Board of Directors of SPAY, in his presentation, emphasized that the answer to the modern challenges that our country is facing with the fires, is the mobilization of Civil Society with voluntary initiatives, such as the activities of SPAY to Ymittos who bring citizens closer to nature and make them aware of issues of environmental protection, fire prevention and dealing with the consequences of the climate crisis. Also a very important element is the environmental education of the students and especially when it is done with the presence of the students in the forest using the trails as a modern green school classroom!

The Director of the Lyceum of Nisyros, Professor Mr. Giannis Koulakis, in his intervention spoke about the program for the creation of the trail networks and the participation of the students of Nisyros in the Environmental programs, while reminding that "we borrowed the environment and nature, we did not inherit it and we owe to hand it over to the next generations". Mr. Koulakis, speaking about the development prospects both for Nisyros and in general, referred to the need to return to nature and to strengthen agricultural production and the primary sector, initiatives which, as he emphasized, will have multiple benefits for society.

This year's "Nisyros Dialogues", are the second after last year's founding «Dialogues», with the participation of representatives of the Government, politicians, academics and representatives of organizations who discussed issues such as Energy Transition: The Next Day, Insularity and Digital Transformation, GR-eco Islands: A Government Initiative turning Greek Islands into Models of Green & Sustainable Development, Insular Greece: Trails of Nature and Culture.

Opening the proceedings, Mr. Panagiotis G. Mihalos, president of the "Georgios M. Mihalos Foundation" NPO, welcomed the attendees and referred to the contribution of former minister Mr. Yiannis Maniatis and the other founding members, to the successful establishment of the "Dialogues of Nisyros" as a think tank for the promotion of Small Islands and Eastern Mediterranean into a region of sustainable development, cultural mutual understanding and cooperation.

Archimandrite father Justinianos delivered the message of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in which the Ecumenical Head of the Orthodox Church referred to the threats facing the planet from the uncontrolled ecological crisis we are experiencing and referred to the need to take initiatives that will limit the destructive consequences for the environment.

Greetings were addressed by regional parliamentarians, the state senator of Rhode Island and President of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association, Mr. Leonidas Raptakis, the Mayor of Nisyros, Mr. Christofis Koronaios and the prefect of Kos-Nisyros, Mr. Yiannis Kampanis. In the "Nisyros Dialogues" a video message was delivered by the 22-year-old activist Melati Wijsen from Indonesia, who at the age of 12 founded the organization "Bye Bye Plastic Bags", with the aim of protecting the environment.