Greece's Social Climate Plan was the fifth plan approved by the Commission under the Social Climate Fund.
The Greek plan supports households that are most affected by rising energy and transport costs and who struggle to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and to access sustainable transport.
Context
- Greece is affected by high levels of energy and transport poverty, and more than 1.7 million households and 1.4 million transport users are expected to be significantly affected by the inclusion of buildings and road transport under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS2)
- These are low and lower-middle income households, exposed to increasing energy or transport costs, who face structural barriers such as living in energy-inefficient housing, having limited access to public transport and residing in remote and rural areas
- Greece’s Social Climate Plan includes measures and investments that will durably reduce energy and transport poverty, ensuring affordable heating, cooling and mobility
What measures does it fund?
Affordable housing- Development of social housing (€487.5 million), delivering 2 350 new units in zero-emission buildings and additional 450 units through the renovation of public buildings, for a total of 2 800 social housing units. The investment will provide affordable, energy-efficient housing for around 11 500 beneficiaries.
- Renovation of 15 public student residences across 10 universities (€226.6 million), guaranteeing access to higher education and affordable housing for 5 930 students.
Energy renovation of buildings- Vulnerable households can receive funding for energy renovations to improve their homes’ energy efficiency, reduce energy consumption and lower related costs. Energy efficiency upgrades of residential buildings (€1 748 million), supporting the energy renovation of 62 000 dwellings and the installation of at least 200 000 energy-efficient appliances (heat pumps and solar heating) replacing old fossil fuel-based equipment. Moreover, they will be supported to install solar panels, lowering electricity bills through self-generation and increasing energy independence.
- Εnergy efficiency upgrades of vulnerable microenterprises’ buildings (€396 million), supporting the energy renovation and/ or the installation of energy-efficient appliances. The investment will support approximately 9 350 microenterprises, focusing on sectors facing high energy costs.
- Establishment of 13 one-stop-shops across the country (€17.8 million), providing free guidance and advisory support to vulnerable households and microenterprises.
Public transportation- Strengthening the bus fleet in Athens and Thessaloniki (€129 million) through the procurement of 211 new zero emission buses for lines serving areas with increased transport vulnerability.
- Transport on demand services (€47.2 million) providing more flexible mobility solutions in rural and remote areas with a high level of transport poverty.
- Upgrade of 10 trains (€262 million) on Athens Metro Line 1 and the procurement of 12 new trains on Athens Metro Line 2&3 to enhance accessibility and service quality.
- Procurement of zero emission buses for the daily transportation of up to 11 000 students with special needs (€219.4 million).
- Upgrade accessibility infrastructure and renovation work in 33 railway stations and 65 Metro stations (€65.6 million) to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities and reduced mobility.
Individual mobility- Social Leasing of zero-emission vehicles for 15 000 transport-vulnerable households (€165.3 million) and support to around 15 550 vulnerable micro-enterprises to purchase or lease zero-emission vehicles (€373.7 million). The Plan also funds the installation of 4 400 publicly accessible EV charging points (€135 million) for households and micro-enterprises in areas that are currently underserved by the market.
- Subsidy for individual mobility devices for 13 200 persons with disabilities (€41.4 million) to purchase of electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters and hand bikes.
Funding
- The total budget of the Greek Social Climate Plan amounts to €4.77 billion
- The EU contributes €3.58 billion (75%) from the Social Climate Fund, financed fully by the EU Emission Trading System
- Greece covers the remaining 25% share of the funding (€1.19 billion)
Who benefits from the plan?
- The Greek Plan benefits households that meet the definition of energy or transport poverty, as well as specific conditions set out for each measure and investment
- Specifically, the plan targets the around 1.76 million households living in energy-inefficient housing and 1.47 million vulnerable transport users, especially in areas with limited public transport
- By 2032, the implementation of the Plan is expected to lift around 460 000 vulnerable households and 300 000 vulnerable transport users out of energy or transport poverty
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Timeline at a glance
- 27 August 2026Commission endorses Greek’s Social Climate Plan
- first quarter of 2027Greece will be able to request a first payment from the Commission
- 2032Social Climate Fund fully implemented
