On Wednesday 12 June 2024, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr Giannis Kefalogiannis, attended the Award Ceremony of the 424 Army Training General Hospital as a Unit of “Friend of the Environment” for the year 2023 and presented a commemorative plaque to the Director of the aforementioned Hospital, Brigadier General Apostolos Mihailidis, at the Hall of Honours “Ioannis Kapodistrias” of the Ministry of National Defence.
Mr Kefalogiannis pointed out that the active participation of the Armed Forces in minimising the impact of the climate change means improvement of the energy efficiency of the buildings’ infrastructures, incorporation of the renewable energy sources in the energy mixture, implementation of programmes of integrated waste management, procurement of assets, systems and materials which leave the smallest possible energy and environmental footprint, stressing that in the recent years important steps have been made towards that direction. At the same time, he pointed out that projects of energy upgrade of structures are promoted, amounting to 75 million euros, whereas, through the “Prodigee” programme, a series of programmes have been studied for the energy upgrade and autonomy of other structures as well, which will have priority regarding their funding by the National Strategic Reference Framework, the Recovery Fund and the European Bank of Investments.
The goal is the establishment of the first green unit, that is a unit with almost zero energy footprint.
The ceremony was attended by Chief/HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis, Chief/HNGS Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras HN, Chief/HAFGS Lieutenant General Dimosthenis Gregoriadis, Deputy Chief/HAGS Lieutenant General Andreas Koronakis.
The Deputy Minister of National Defence stated in his address:
“With great joy I am here today, in this outstanding initiative of the National Defence General Staff, which projects a different and especially bright side of the Armed Forces-that of their environmentally friendly action and their contribution in minimising the impact of the climate change. We face what may be the greatest threat of humanity and the natural eco-system, that does not make distinction among people, social groups, geographical regions or states. No one has the right to say that they do not know.
The active participation of the members of the Armed Forces in minimising the impact of the climate change is not just another operational demand. Nor should it be considered as part of a voluntary collective effort. It is above all a moral mandate, mainly arising by our status as people and from the fact that the members of the Armed Forces are vital part of societies, that are called to protect even with their life, when and if necessary. The active participation of the Armed Forces in minimising the impact means a series of things:
The improvement of the energy efficiency of the structures, the incorporation of the renewable energy sources in the energy mixture, the implementation of integrated waste management programmes, as well as the procurement of assets, systems and materials that leave the smallest possible environmental footprint.
In recent years, important steps have been made towards that direction. I distinguish especially the efforts made by the staffs for the energy upgrade of our structures, which constitutes one of the main reasons that we award the 424 Army Training General Hospital today. We will continue and we will intensify that effort.
Already, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Energy, we promote projects of energy upgrade of structures amounting to 75 million euros, including the structures in Papagou Camp. In addition, through the “Prodigee” programme which is managed by the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, we have been studying a series of projects for the energy upgrade and autonomy of other structures as well, which will have priority regarding their funding by the National Strategic Reference Framework, the Recovery Fund and the European Bank of Investments. We hope at least one of these projects will lead to the first green unit, that is a unit with almost zero energy footprint.
But mainly, we hope to activate a road map coordinated by the Directorate of Military and Technological Support that will clearly set the axes that the Ministry and the General Staffs must follow, so that, without an impact in the fulfilment of their main mission, they will adjust their activity in the collective challenges posed by the climate change.
Director, allow me to congratulate in your person the Administration and all personnel of the 424 Army Training General Hospital for the efforts you make. Take for granted the unreserved support of the political leadership in every step you take towards that direction”.
