Greece
Greece ranks 36th in the CCPI, down six places from the previous year and now among the low performers. The country receives a medium rating in Renewable Energy and Energy Use, and a low in GHG Emissions and Climate Policy.
Greece’s climate and energy targets are based on the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), updated in 2025. The CCPI country experts note that the NECP contains some of the most ambitious targets of any EU member state. However, the experts criticise increasing delays in policy implementation, regulatory inconsistencies, and continued support for fossil gas infrastructure, all of which undermine the effectiveness of the country’s climate strategy. Overall, there is a growing disparity between the stated ambition of Greece’s climate and energy framework and its practical implementation.
Increased dependence on fossil gas
Greece is committed to phasing out lignite-fired electricity generation by 2028. However, the state-owned Public Power Corporation (PPC) has set a more ambitious target, aiming to cease operations at its lignite-fired power plants by the end of 2026. Lignite generation has decreased rapidly in recent years, falling from 11% of the electricity mix in 2023 to 5.4% in 2025, and this has reduced emissions.
Meanwhile, the country’s renewable energy generation has progressed. However, the share of renewables in its electricity mix declined from 51.6% in 2023 to 48.9% in 2025. The absence of storage and lack of flexibility have severely curtailed renewable energy. High dependence on fossil gas has also offset progress in generating power from renewables. Support for fossil gas infrastructure continues, including new gas-fired power plants, liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals, and gas distribution networks. This development risks locking the country into long-term fossil fuel consumption and exposing consumers to volatile energy prices, while creating stranded asset risks as Europe accelerates decarbonisation. Greece generated 23.3 TWh of electricity from gas in 2025, which was an increase in fossil gas generation. This was almost double the amount projected in the NECP for 2025 (12.2 TWh).
Greece is also collaborating with the oil and gas industry to explore new gas infrastructure opportunities and supporting new offshore oil and gas exploration. This pattern raises concerns about the impact on biodiversity in sensitive marine ecosystems. The European Commission has repeatedly urged Greece to establish a clear timetable for phasing out fossil fuel subsidies and accelerating the removal of environmentally harmful support measures well before 2030.
As the world’s largest ship-owning nation, Greece holds considerable influence within the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Instead of supporting ambitious measures for aligning global shipping with climate goals, however, Greece has emerged as one of the most vocal opponents of the proposed IMO Net-Zero Framework. Representatives of the Greek government and shipping interests have repeatedly argued for maintaining LNG as a ‘transitional fuel’ and raised concerns about more stringent emissions reduction requirements, carbon pricing mechanisms, and the pace and design of the proposed decarbonisation of international shipping. This position is increasingly at odds with the broader EU approach, which includes a comprehensive package of maritime climate policies.
Electrification progresses slowly, but Social Climate Plan offers scope for improvement
Emissions reductions in Greece have been disproportionately concentrated in the electricity sector, while the electrification of transport, buildings, and industry has progressed more slowly. The submission and approval in August 2026 of Greece’s comprehensive national plan for the Social Climate Fund, totalling around EUR 5 billion, was a major recent milestone. This effort directly supports electrification, as it allocates substantial funding to initiatives for adopting electric mobility and electrifying residential heating, with special attention to vulnerable households and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The plan includes actions for electrifying public transport fleets and financial support schemes to encourage SMEs and private individuals to purchase electric vehicles, with increased incentives for vulnerable and energy-poor households. It also includes energy efficiency measures to facilitate the shift from fossil fuel-based heating systems to electric heating solutions (such as heat pumps) in the residential sector.
The experts demand that Greece make the NECP targets legally binding, rather than soft, non-binding commitments. Greece should also stop developing new fossil gas infrastructure, move beyond gas, and end fossil fuel subsidies, while rolling out renewable energy generation and improving grid stability.
Key outcomes
- Greece ranks 36th in the CCPI, down six places from the previous year and now among the low performers.
- The country has increased its electricity generation from fossil gas and risks becoming locked into long-term fossil fuel use.
- Key demands: Make NECP targets legally binding, stop developing new fossil gas infrastructure, strengthen meaningful public engagement and social participation in the energy transition, move beyond gas, and end fossil fuel subsidies, while rolling out renewable energy generation, storage and improving grid stability
CCPI experts
The following national experts agreed to be mentioned as contributors for this year’s CCPI:
