On Tuesday, 29 November 2022, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias declared the Conference under title “Climate Change and Armed Forces – Impact of climate change on security, assets, equipment, infrastructure, operational planning and Armed Forces personnel / Adjustment to the new climate conditions” officially open.

This important and at the same time timely action, which was co-organised by the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS) and the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA), at HNDGS amphitheatre “Major (Pilot) Dimitrios Kamberos”, at Papagou Camp, was attended by members of the Armed Forces General Staffs and distinguished EKPA professors, who participated as speakers.

In his address, the Deputy Minister of National Defence stated the following:

“It is a special honour and joy to be in today’s conference, an important action for Climate Change, the environment and the adjustment of the Armed Forces to the new conditions, which is organised for the first time at the Ministry of National Defence, with the participation of the National and Kapodistrian University; a timely and necessary action, which started as a HNDGS initiative and is implemented in accordance with the principles of continuity and consistency which we abide by.

The Ministry of National Defence, in the context of the Government’s commitment regarding environmental protection, declared 2020 as the year of “Research, Technological Development, Innovation and Environmental Protection” and it subsequently issued the “Environment – Energy Policy and Adjustment Policy to the Climate Crisis”, a comprehended policy of prevention and response to climate change, therein integrating practices and methods of national and international standards, to deal with the impact of climate change, and setting the axes on which the Armed Forces are called to operate.

The Political and Military Leadership of the Ministry of National Defence is mainly concerned with the transition into the era of energy autonomy, for the benefit of the environment, the society and economy, having always the security of our personnel, assets and infrastructure as a principle for our Ministry.

The entire effort would not have been successful without the contribution of the University community and the utilization of research and experience of Universities and our research centers. The capabilities of both scientists and their technicians is a strong legacy, which, combined with the capabilities of respective agencies, as well as of specialized members of the Armed Forces, could ensure the necessary know-how, as well as the appropriate conditions of prevention and response to the current environmental and climate crises and their consequences.

At this point, we would like to thank the participating Professors and researchers from EKPA, and especially Mr. Konstantinos Kartalis, for his valuable contribution to matters relating to his specialty, but also to the incorporation of military aspects into science, for the benefit of operational planning and security of the country.

Equally valuable is the knowledge and experience of the involved agencies of the Ministry of National Defence, the General Staffs, the Higher Training Academies {National Defence College (SETHA) and Supreme Joint War College (ADISPO) and the Higher Training Institutions, as well as the Financial Planning and Support General Directorate / Military and Technological Support Directorate, which, being the competent Directorate of the Ministry on matters of environment, energy and climate change, specifies the policy and the main actions’ axes within the Armed Forces.

The all the more changing energy environment, as shaped by the geostrategic conditions, the consequences of climate change, as well as the fluid global economy, requires that the leadership of both civil and private agencies be alert, flexible, innovative, adjustable, and that they make bold and targeted decisions, in order to forthwith face the continually arising challenges.

To this direction, our Ministry has concluded Cooperation Memoranda with agencies of the Central Government, as well as with organisations of the wider research and development environment, the result of which is today’s conference. The Public Power Corporation (PPC), the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO), the Bank of Greece and the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA), constitute some of said agencies, since there are plenty other memoranda and cooperations signed at HNDGS and General Staffs level.

The purpose of all these memoranda is the most effective and qualitative cooperation in matters of environment, energy and response to climate change, for the benefit of the Armed Forces’ operational readiness and the upgrade of their infrastructure and assets. Ensuring the improvement of society’s security conditions and directly responding to the challenges emerging from physical dangers or disasters is the cornerstone of the aforementioned beneficial and friendly cooperation.

So, I address today’s conference with enthusiasm and I wish for it to be constructive and the starting point of other similar actions.

In the context of the beginning of the works of the Conference, HNDGS/Chief General Konstantinos Floros and the Vice-Regent of Research and Training For Life Professor Mr. Nikolaos Voulgaris, representing EKPA’s Dean, made an address.

The event was attended by HAGS/Chief Lieutenant General Charalambos Lalousis, HNGS/Chief Vice Admiral Stylianos Petrakis HN and HAFGS/Chief Lieutenant General Themistoklis Bourolias, HNDGS/Deputy Chief Vice Admiral Ioannis Drymousis HN, the Vice-Regent of Academic Affairs and Student Care of EKPA, Professor Mr. Dimitrios Karadimas, members representations of the Armed Forces three Services, as well as students of Military Academies.