First Official Greek Expedition to Antarctica – Speech by the Chair of the Parliamentary Environment Committee, Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou, at the ELEPOZ Event

“The cryosphere is a critical regulator of the climate, and its protection is vital for mitigating climate change and ensuring the uninterrupted continuation of life on the planet,” emphasized the Chair of the Parliamentary Environment Committee and Member of Parliament for Ilia, Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou, during her speech at the event titled “Polar Regions: Their Impact on Our Planet,” organized by the Hellenic Polar Zones Society (ELEPOZ) in cooperation with the Technical University of Crete and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, held at the War Museum Amphitheatre.

At the same time, she welcomed the initiative of ELEPOZ for the first official Greek female scientific expedition to Antarctica.

The participation of Greece for the first time in Antarctic research is considered highly significant, with the long-term goal of establishing a Greek research base on the continent. The Hellenic Polar Zones Society had requested the support of the Parliamentary Environment Committee for this initiative and also participated, together with the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, in the 9th Our Ocean Conference held in Athens on 15–17 April 2024.

During the event, the President of ELEPOZ, Mr. Symeon Konstantinidis, thanked Dr. Avgerinopoulou for her immediate response and actions that led to the official state support of this important mission. She congratulated the President and members of the Society for, as she said, “keeping alive the dream of Greece’s participation in polar research.”

In her speech, she also expressed her gratitude to the Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Development, and particularly the Deputy Minister Ms. Rapti and her team, as well as the Ministry of Environment and Energy, for their support. She also highlighted the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation for its financial and moral support, and the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute for hosting Greek scientists participating in the mission and for its broader cooperation and guidance.

Dr. Avgerinopoulou further referred to Greek scientists who have already participated individually or within foreign expeditions in Antarctic research and expressed the hope that Greece will develop a national Antarctic strategy in the coming years, establish its own base in Antarctica, and expand its scientific missions there.

Changes in the Cryosphere as Primary Indicators of Climate Change

Dr. Avgerinopoulou also referred to the “State of the Cryosphere Report 2024,” presented at COP29 in Baku. According to the report, more than 50 leading scientists warn about the dramatic impacts of accelerating ice loss on the planet and stress the urgent need for immediate action to address the climate crisis.

As she highlighted, the cryosphere—of which Antarctica is a major component—plays a crucial role in the Earth’s climate system, influencing solar radiation reflection, temperature regulation, water circulation, and sea level rise. Changes in the cryosphere due to global warming are among the most important and historically early indicators of climate change.

She emphasized that scientists call for an immediate and drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, in line with the Paris Agreement, and stated that this call is fully supported.

She concluded that Earth is one, and that the natural environment, oceans, and water in all its forms—liquid or solid—are interconnected and represent humanity’s most valuable resource, which must be protected.