Commission endorses Greece’s €4.8 billion Social Climate Plan to support vulnerable households, transport users and micro-enterprises in the clean transition

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

Today, the European Commission adopted Greece’s Social Climate Plan. It is the fifth and largest national plan adopted under the Social Climate Fund so far, which will use the revenues from emission allowances to advance the clean transition and support vulnerable consumers and enterprises. The plan was developed by the Greek authorities together with the Commission. Following their implementation, the investments and reforms supported through the Greek Social Climate Plan (2026-2032) will contribute to emissions reductions reaching 811,000 tons of CO2 equivalent yearly by 2032. The Plan will mobilise €4.77 billion until 2032, including €3.57 billion (75%) from the EU and €1.2 billion (25%) from national funds.

The Commission concluded that Greece’s Social Climate Plan adequately addresses the social impacts of extending greenhouse gas emissions trading to buildings and road transport under the new Emissions Trading System (ETS2).

The plan will support 460,000 vulnerable households by reducing their reliance on fossil fuels through support for up to 62,000 renovations and the installation of 200,000 heat pumps and solar water heating systems. The plan will also expand the country’s social housing stock with 2,800 new energy-efficient social units. A further €226 million will go towards the renovation of public student residences, improving access for 5,930 vulnerable students to higher education. A temporary heating allowance will also support up to 800,000 vulnerable households a year to meet their heating expenses after the introduction of ETS2.

300,000 vulnerable transport users will benefit from strengthened public transport through more than 200 new electric buses in urban areas with high rates of transport vulnerability, 22 additional Athens metro trains, new on-demand-transport services in remote areas as well as charging infrastructure. A social leasing scheme will also enable 15,000 car-dependent vulnerable households to access electric vehicles at an affordable monthly rate, accelerating the shift to zero emission mobility.

The plan prioritises accessibility and inclusivity by investing in more than 12,000 mobility devices such as electric wheelchairs and scooters, a new dedicated school transport service for students with disabilities, and accessibility upgrades to 33 railway stations and 85 metro stations.

Finally, the plan supports 28,000 vulnerable micro-enterprises in transitioning towards cleaner buildings and mobility solutions with €820 million dedicated to reducing energy and transport costs through targeted energy efficiency upgrades to buildings and subsidies.

Greece will be able to request its first payment to the Commission once implementation has started and milestones have been achieved.

Background

The Social Climate Fund is designed to support measures and investments in energy efficiency, the renovation of buildings, clean heating and cooling, and the integration of renewable energy, as well as in zero-emission mobility and transport. Running from 2026 to 2032, the Fund is expected to mobilise at least €86.7 billion EU-wide, combining revenues from the new emissions trading system for fuel combustion in buildings, road transport and additional sectors (ETS2) with Member States’ own contributions.

The Commission is working closely with all Member States on their Social Climate Plans and calls for their swift submission. To date, ten Member States (Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy and Luxembourg) have formally submitted their plans to the Commission for approval. Sweden’s plan was the first one adopted, followed by Lithuania, Latvia, Malta and now Greece. Most remaining Member States have shared draft versions. The Commission has provided dedicated guidance to help them implement the Social Climate Fund and finalise their plans.

For more information

Greek Social Climate Plan

Commission implementing decision on the Social Climate Plan of Greece

Annexes I-IV to the Commission implementing decision on the Social Climate Plan of Greece

Social Climate Fund

Guidance on the implementation of the Social Climate Fund

Factsheet – implementation guidance

Social Climate Fund Regulation

EU Emissions trading system for buildings, road transport and additional sectors (ETS2)