The members of the Blue Municipalities Network are the first municipalities in Greece to approve strategic action plans for the marine environment! While a clear central strategy for our seas is still lacking, local authorities are innovating by demonstrating practical steps for the protection of marine resources.
In collaboration with the environmental organization Aegean Rebreath and after years of implementing activities, at least one-third of the network’s members have approved, through municipal council votes, the integration of marine environment policies into their programs. These policies are based on a nine-pillar action plan focusing on prevention, depollution, circular economy, education, research and raising awareness among local communities.
This development is significant, as it marks the first time that civil society and local authorities are working together to develop well-founded policies, proving that addressing a challenge as critical as marine pollution must start primarily at the local community and authority level. It is no coincidence that the Ministry of Environment and Energy has already expressed interest in incorporating these efforts into the framework of shaping a national strategy for the marine environment.
