The European Commission adopted Greece’s 4.8-billion-euro Social Climate Plan to support vulnerable households, transport users and micro-enterprises in the clean transition between 2026 and 2032.
The plan, which will use the revenues from emission allowances to advance the clean transition and support vulnerable consumers and enterprises, was developed by the Greek authorities together with the Commission.
Greece not only becomes one of the first five Member States to have their plans approved (following Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, and Malta) but this is also the largest national plan adopted under the Social Climate Fund to this date.
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 a total €4.77 billion until 2032, including €3.57 billion (75%) from the EU and €1.2 billion (25%) from the country’s own national funds.
Social Climate Fund’s multi-level support for clean transition
The Social Climate Fund of the European Commission 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.
Ten Member States have already submitted their plans for approval, while most remaining Member States have shared draft versions.
The approved 4.8 million euro plan for Greece will aid 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. It will also expand the country’s social housing stock with 2,800 new energy-efficient social units.
A further 226 million euro will go towards the renovation of public student residences for 5,930 vulnerable higher education students. 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.
Significant support for transport and micro-enterprises
According to Greece’s Social Climate Fund plan, 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 will be also introduced, alongside new on-demand-transport services in remote areas, and charging infrastructure.
A social leasing scheme will 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 will support 28,000 vulnerable micro-enterprises in transitioning towards cleaner buildings and mobility solutions with 820 million euro 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.
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