Greece Announces Major Marine Park Initiative in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The government of Greece has announced the planned establishment of two extensive marine parks in the Ionian and Aegean seas. This initiative represents a significant national effort to advance marine conservation, directly contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water). The project, however, faces geopolitical challenges, highlighting the complexities of achieving SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) in contested maritime regions.

Advancement of SDG 14: Life Below Water

The creation of these marine parks is a direct action aimed at fulfilling key targets within SDG 14. The Greek government has emphasized that this initiative will enable the country to surpass its international commitments.

• Meeting SDG Target 14.5: Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated the parks will help Greece achieve its goal of designating 30% of its waters as marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2030, significantly ahead of the scheduled timeline.
• Protecting Marine Ecosystems (SDG Target 14.2): The parks are designed as sanctuaries for marine life. A key conservation measure will be the prohibition of trawling, a practice known for its destructive impact on the sea floor and marine habitats.
• Conserving Biodiversity: The parks aim to protect specific vulnerable and threatened species, a core objective of SDG 14.
  • The Ionian park will focus on the protection of sea mammals and turtles.
  • The Aegean park will safeguard critical habitats for seabirds and seals, contributing also to SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Project Scope and Implementation Framework

The government has outlined the scale of the project and the procedural steps for its establishment, reflecting a commitment to institutional process in line with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Park Specifications

• Total Area: The combined initial size of the two parks is projected to be 27,500 square kilometers, making them the largest in the Mediterranean region.
• Aegean Park: This park will cover an initial area of 9,500 square kilometers around the southern Cyclades islands.
• Future Expansion: Officials have indicated plans for further expansion of the protected areas.

Implementation Timeline

1. Public Consultation: Environmental studies defining the parks’ boundaries were submitted for public consultation, concluding on September 22.
2. Legislative Drafting: Following the consultation, the Environment Ministry will draft two presidential decrees.
3. Judicial Review: The decrees will be submitted to the Council of State for review by the end of October.
4. Formal Establishment: The parks will be officially established upon the publication of the decrees.

Geopolitical Challenges and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The initiative has underscored existing geopolitical tensions with neighboring Turkey, presenting a challenge to the principles of international cooperation enshrined in SDG 17.

• Sovereignty and Maritime Boundaries: The planned Aegean park has become a point of contention. Greece asserts the park’s boundaries lie entirely within its sovereign territorial waters.
• Turkey’s Position: The Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that Greece is leveraging environmental issues for political purposes and that the parks will have no legal impact on ongoing maritime disputes. Turkey has called for the avoidance of unilateral actions in the semi-enclosed Aegean and Mediterranean seas.
• Call for Cooperation: Despite the dispute, Turkey expressed its readiness to cooperate with Greece on environmental matters, aligning with the spirit of SDG 17, and announced its intention to launch its own marine life protection projects. This highlights the critical need for diplomatic engagement to ensure that conservation efforts do not exacerbate regional conflicts.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article primarily addresses issues related to the conservation of marine ecosystems, international cooperation, and governance, which connect to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 14: Life Below Water – This is the most prominent SDG, as the article’s central theme is the establishment of two large marine parks in the Ionian and Aegean seas to protect marine life.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – The article highlights the geopolitical tensions between Greece and Turkey over maritime boundaries, which are exacerbated by the creation of the Aegean park. This relates to the goal of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies and managing international disputes.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The potential for collaboration between Greece and Turkey on environmental issues is mentioned. Turkey’s statement about being “ready to work with Athens” points towards the need for partnerships to achieve sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s details, the following specific targets can be identified:

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• Target 14.2: “By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts… and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.” The article supports this target by describing the creation of parks “for the protection of sea mammals and turtles in the Ionian Sea and for seabirds and seals in the Aegean.” Furthermore, the plan states that “trawling of the sea floor will be banned inside the zones,” which is a direct action to protect marine ecosystems from destructive practices.
• Target 14.5: “By 2020, conserve at least 10 percent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information.” The article directly addresses this target, noting that the parks will help Greece “meet its global commitment to expand marine protected areas to 30% of its waters by 2030.” This shows a commitment that significantly exceeds the original 10% goal.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.7: “Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.” The article mentions that the “environmental studies on the parks’ boundaries were submitted on Monday for public consultation until September 22,” which is a key component of participatory decision-making at the national level. However, the article also highlights a lack of inclusive decision-making at the international level, as Turkey states that “unilateral actions should be avoided.”

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.14: “Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development.” The dispute between Greece and Turkey over the marine park illustrates a lack of policy coherence. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry stated that Greece was “exploiting universal values such as environmental issues,” indicating a conflict between environmental goals and geopolitical interests.
• Target 17.16: “Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development…” Turkey’s statement that it is “ready to work with Athens as a fellow Aegean coastal state to address any outstanding disputes” implies a call for partnership to resolve the issue and collaborate on marine protection, which aligns with this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article contains both explicit and implied indicators for measuring progress:

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• Indicator 14.5.1: Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas. The article provides specific quantitative data for this indicator. It mentions Greece’s commitment to “expand marine protected areas to 30% of its waters by 2030.” It also gives the current planned size of the two parks as “27,500 km2.” This data can be used to directly measure progress towards Target 14.5.
• An implied indicator for Target 14.2 is the implementation of regulations to reduce destructive practices. The article explicitly states that “trawling of the sea floor will be banned inside the zones,” which is a measurable action to protect the marine ecosystem.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• An implied indicator for Target 16.7 is the process for public engagement in policy-making. The article mentions a “public consultation until September 22,” which serves as a qualitative indicator of a participatory process.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• An implied indicator for Target 17.16 is the existence of bilateral or multilateral agreements on environmental issues. The article highlights the absence of such an agreement, as Turkey criticizes Greece’s “unilateral actions.” However, Turkey’s stated readiness “to work with Athens” suggests that the potential for future partnership could be a measure of progress.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: marinetechnologynews.com