Climatic change: Greece in 2070 will be hot, dry, barren

Athens Observatory study forecasts dire conditions in years to come

By Tania Georgiopoulou - Kathimerini

This summer’s repeated heat waves are just a foretaste of what’s to come, according to experts. The average maximum temperature in July, now 33 degrees Celsius (91F), is expected to climb to 41C (106F) in the next decades, and average rainfall levels are forecast to drop by 20 percent or even 80 percent in summer months. Scientists believe that despite efforts by the European Union to limit the effects of climatic change to two degrees Celsius, the average increase will be at least 3.5 degrees over the next few years, with varied effects on different parts of the world. The Athens Observatory’s Group on Energy Planning, Climatic Change and Sustainable Development has studied the effects of climate change in Greece over two years to April 2007. The results show that there will soon be energy shortages, crops will be affected and large coastal areas flooded. Athens will face water shortages. Scientists call for measures not only to avert the phenomena but deal with their consequences.