After discovering the SDGs’ matrix, its challenges, its interests, … (Click here to discover the 1st step of our approach “SEE” with our posts dedicated to each SDG) Here is the 2nd step of our approach SEE, ANALYZE, ACT & SHARE! It consists to find out the SDGs international applications to understand the specific challenges in the different states where we are going to. Here is the ANALYZE step and it starts with Greece!
GREECE PROFILE
- Capital: Athens, the oldest European city
- Number of inhabitants: 10.72 million
- Currency: Euro
- Official language: Greek
- President: Katerina Sakellaropoulou since March 2020, she is the first female president of Greece
- Government: Unitary parliamentary republic
- GDP: 2020 estimated GDP per capital: 20,324$ (World Bank), ranked the 43rd worldwide
- HDI: 2019 HDI: 0,872 (UN Development Programme), ranked the 32nd worldwide (high ranking)
- Gini: 2019 Gini: 31 (represents the income inequality or wealth inequality within a nation)
- Climate & Geography: Mainly Mediterranean (temperate to alpine in some areas) & the state is composed by mountains, hills, forests, rivers, lakes, coasts with peninsulas, islands and cultivated lands, all surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea in the west and the Aegean Sea in the east.
- Economic situation:
(+) Greece is a developed country with a high standard of living and an economy mainly based on the service sector (85%), but also industry/manufacturing 12%: the Greek merchant marine is the largest in the world), agriculture (3%: the country is a considerable agricultural producer within the EU), energy and technology.
(+) Greece is the largest economy in the Balkans.
(-) Greece crosses a strong debt crisis between 2010 and 2018 and the Covid-19 pandemic is likely to be negative for the economic recovery.
(-) Today, unemployment has risen (especially the youth unemployment at 42,3% in 2018 and the women unemployment) such as tax evasion, corruption, income and many other inequalities.
- Health care: Universal health care ranked 14th/191 by the World Health Organization
Greece’s international commitment to contribute to reach the SDGs by 2030
Greece is strongly committed to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs and ensuring “no one is left behind” is a high political priority for the state. The National Growth Strategy places particular emphasis to be fully compatible and aligned with the 2030 Agenda and 8 National Priorities for the SDGs have had been identified during the Voluntary National Review in 2018:
Promotion of a competitive, innovative and sustainable economic growth (SDGs 8,9)
Promotion of full employment and decent work for all (SDGs 8,4),
Addressing poverty and social exclusion and promote universal access to quality health care services (SDGs 1, 2, 3, 8, 10),
Reduction of social and regional inequalities and ensuring equal opportunities for all (SDGs 10, 5, 4, 8, 1, 3, 11, 16),
Promotion of a high quality and inclusive education for all (SDG 4),
Strengthen the protection and sustainable management of the natural capital as a base for social development/prosperity and transition to a low-carbon economy (SDGs 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15),
Building of effective, accountable and transparent institutions / institutional mechanisms (SDGs 16, 17),
Enhance open, participatory, democratic processes and promoting partnerships (SDGs 16, 17).
Main challenges for Greece on the way to the SDGs
To meet the goals by 2030, Greece must deal with the following challenges of the sustainable development:
On the Economic pillar:
- Balance out through measures for equitable growth by improving the business environment and encouraging investments
- Promoting social and solidarity economy
- Supporting human capital
- Supporting research and innovation
- Fostering sustainability in sectors such as agriculture, tourism and infrastructure
On the Social pillar:
- Reduce the unemployment, particularly for youth and women
- Facilitate the inclusion of immigrants and vulnerable population group
- Sustain the implementation of the robust social security system, the minimum guaranteed income for all, the social residential electricity tariff and free access to quality education for everyone at all education levels
On the Environmental pillar:
- Pursue a low carbon circular economy and improvement in waste reduction, reuse and recycle for creating new jobs and increasing resource efficiency
- Pursue a full application of an integrated water resources management to consider both social aspects and ecosystem needs
To combine the three pillars on the right path, Greece need to pursue its progress in many areas to ensure effective, accountable and transparent institutions and enhancing participatory and democratic processes and expand tools to fight corruption, protecting human rights and enhancing strong partnerships within borders, between all stakeholders, and beyond borders.
Is Greece on the right path to contribute to reach the SDGs?
On the three pillars (Economic, Social & Environmental), Greece proves that the country is in a good place to meet its National Priorities aligned with the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs. However, to transform entirely its development, stakeholders at all stages need to involve themselves in the SDGs implementation in order to make the National Growth Strategy a strong sustainable movement unstoppable to reach the SDGs!
References:
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