Athens , 8 July 2008

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear friends,

I would like to welcome you to the Foreign Ministry and thank you for your attendance.

This conference on Green entrepreneurship is organised by the Foreign Ministry in cooperation with, and thanks to the support of, many important business and scientific actors.

At first sight, there might not seem to be a direct link between the Foreign Ministry, this particular issue and involved business and scientific partners.

But the link between the Foreign Ministry and this issue becomes evident if we associate it with the two main characteristics of today’s and tomorrow’s entrepreneurship: extroversion and compatibility between business activities and environmental protection. The first characteristic has to do with today’s globalised economy. The second has to do with the environment itself. 

Nature and modern economic developments set off the urgency, the importance of green entrepreneurship. It is for environmental reasons but, most importantly, due to climate change that green entrepreneurship and green technology have become the focus of the discussion on sustainable development and ensuring a good quality of life for everyone.

We are now well aware that the climate is changing due to human actions. But we still don’t know where this unprecedented global warming experiment caused by human-induced gas emissions will lead us.

There is not much room left for redressing the situation. Significant efforts are required at an international, national, local and individual level to avoid the worst; the worst for the planet and for humanity. Because, at the end of the day, the guinea-pig is humanity itself.

There are also serious economic and political reasons that render green entrepreneurship a necessary, and not simply attractive, idea. These reasons have to do with energy self-sufficiency and security and, ultimately, the competitiveness of their economies. Let me be more specific:

The use of hydrocarbons – responsible for the most significant part of the problem – is out-of-date. Those economies that insist on an almost exclusive use of fossil fuels with a significant impact on the environment such as oil, coal, lignite will not only put them to shame as the world’s biggest polluters. They will also have to incur the high cost of the shrinking of their competitiveness.

The constantly increasing demand for oil and production resources coupled with dwindling finite stocks condemns those economies that do not capitalise on green economy opportunities to constantly lagging behind.

Today’s oil prices and the chain reaction caused by their increase across the economic spectrum around the world give a bitter foretaste of what lies ahead.

Particularly, if we take into account the tendency for increased power consumption on a global scale. It is expected that its levels will rise by 50% by 2030 compared to today due to a growing world population and the development of economies.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Green economy and the introduction of green technology is the way in which we will be able to balance two basic and – at first sight, contradictory – needs. The need, on the one hand, for more development and energy, particularly in the case of rapidly growing economies such as India and China, and, more generally, for all the countries that have a significant wealth in renewable sources of energy. And on the other hand, the need for a cleaner environment.

Green technology allows for a neutral – in terms of greenhouse gas emissions – growth and for maintaining the ecological balance. There is of course a self-evident precondition, i.e., that investments on research under way and on the development of green technology will result in the creation of economically competitive technological solutions. Solutions that will break the negative link between the cost of environmental protection and economic growth without aggravating inequalities between rich and poor.

Green technology coupled with green entrepreneurship essentially does away with the dilemma: development or environment. Today, there can be no development without taking account of the environment. Returning to the rhythm of life of the pre-industrial era is also inconceivable. This is particularly true for the peoples of rapidly developing economies who claim the right to enjoy a western way of life, just like us. The objective is, therefore, to combine growth with environmental protection. 

A third reason showing us the dynamics and prospects of green entrepreneurship is the creation of a strong green grassroots movement. More and more citizens realise that their activities – be they business activities or consuming habits – neglect the environment and are thus harmful in the long term for both individuals and the society as a whole.

Citizens seem to be more prepared to reward those businesses that incorporate environmental protection in their wider policy: Within the framework of corporate social responsibility, as part of the design, production, market launch, distribution, and consumption of their products and services. And of course as part of provisions for the recycling of part of the whole product, once it completes its life cycle on the market.

A recent study into the stance of Europeans vis-a-vis the environment showed that three quarters of those asked were willing to buy environmentally friendly products, even if they cost more. The same study showed that two thirds of those asked whether they think environmental protection is an obstacle to good economic performance or an incentive for innovation chose the latter. This means that even simple citizens have started to see caring for the environment as an inherent component of growth. They see the opportunity and the potential and not just the problem.

A fourth reason should be added to all the above. The European Union  implements a pioneering policy, based on which it has made important unilateral commitments to cut CO2 emissions and develop renewable sources of energy by 2020. These initiatives are of course included within the framework of a wider European energy strategy. A strategy aimed at energy self-sufficiency and security based on the diversification of energy sources, countries of origin and transit. Furthermore, the diversification of energy types translates into investments on research and innovation.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Greece – an objectively small country – does have an endless list of fields, on which it may focus and specialise. Bioclimatic housing, solar cooling and heating, energy production from renewable sources, are areas in which we can be competitive at a European and international level and for which we can say we are on the right track. Their wider application in tourism could pave the way for a dynamic Greek presence in green tourism, by attracting environmentally conscious visitors. Our geographic location and the Greek landscape are also favourable factors. But we need more.

This is where the private, business initiative enters the discussion. We are not talking about any initiative. We are talking about green extrovert initiatives. The challenge, dear friends, is not whether we join the many who will turn to the use of green technology in the coming years. But whether we join the much smaller group of those countries that will develop the necessary know-how, goods and services, and transfer them to the others.

This means we need targeted long-term initiatives; not makeshift ones, only aimed at making easy profits. If this is the case, they will not only fail to be convincing with regard to their motives, but their results and duration will not be what was expected. It would be a shame. Because green entrepreneurship opens up many prospects. It can, first of all, cover all the sectors of the economy: The primary sector (organic produce), the secondary (energy production, green construction and energy saving, recycling), the tertiary sector (trade in green products), the quaternary sector (communication, promotion, certification). It opens up opportunities for small private businesses and producers to play a significant role in shaping the new, green market. In this way, it is possible to strengthen both employment and competitiveness.

It is for all these reasons that we are here today. The Foreign Ministry, other co-competent bodies, business, scientific, and academic representatives.

To look beyond the difficulties and see the prospects;

to register our abilities and join forces;  

to look into the areas in which we can develop and areas we can promote in Greece and abroad. This happens within the framework of our economic diplomacy and the internationalisation of Greek businesses, which we have every right to demand.

Green entrepreneurship and internationalisation do not simply translate into the strengthening of Greek entrepreneurship. They also lead to a general reinforcement of the Greek economy’s competitiveness. Furthermore, they promote our country’s international image with regard to the fulfilment of its obligations on the environment. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to thank you all for being here today: The renowned scientists who honoured us with their presence; businesspeople who came to present their own innovative ideas; I would like you to know that everyone at the Foreign Ministry, the competent Deputy Foreign Minister, our economic diplomacy, we will all be at your disposal and help you promote these ideas to the best of our abilities.

Thank you very much.