The Mayor of Chalki, Mr. Fragkakis Evangelos, presented in the broadcast www.econews.gr of the Greek channel Skai TV, to the journalist Ms. Korina Georgiou, the pioneering initiative of the Municipality of Chalki about the development of the Municipal Emission Reduction Plans (MERPs) with AI.
The Municipality of Chalki is the first in Greece that manages to implement MERP with the use of Artificial Intelligence – AI.
The MERP (Municipal Emission Reduction Plan) is a mandatory plan for local government authorities (Municipalities) in Greece, which aims to record, measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aiming at climate neutrality, in accordance with the Greek National Climate Law (Greek Law no. 4936/2022).
It includes the calculation of the carbon footprint of the Municipality and the prioritization of measures to achieve specific reduction targets (e.g. 10% for 2025, 30% for 2030).
Basic characteristics of the MERP:
Objective: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and moving to climate neutrality.
Mandatory: All first-tier local government authorities are obliged to draw it up.
Planning tool: A prerequisite for energy and climate funding programmes.
Content: Carbon footprint calculation, reduction targets (e.g., -10% in 2025, -30% in 2030), and actions to achieve the targets.
Compatibility: Must be in line with the Greek National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP)