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When Kosta* was 13 years old he had to move from his small village in
Greece to the nearest, biggest town of Trikala to go to school, and
then high school. Completing this he had to go to Athens, then Cyprus to
complete his military requirements, beginning to search for work he was
then invited to Australia and took a boat for 30 days that stopped in
Dubrovnic, Johannesburg South Africa and Australia's Perth, before he
reached Port Melbourne and friends of his from that same small village
came
to help him find a job.
This story happened more than 60 years ago, but even today, in
Europe, and worldwide we have figures and stories of those closest to
us, supportedy data showing us that moving to the bigger city, nine
times out of 10, improves our livelihoods.
That same village that Kosta left in Greece, which numbers today a
mere 88 residents, used to have a functioning school, local shop, church
and main square; none of these remain as more and more residents depend
on the main city seven kilometres away in Trikala of Thessaly
.In many villages in Asia the same
thing is happening. The globe and all its potential, is considered the
ultimate goal and the next step to allow us all to live at our desired
levels, despite the exponential growth in cities.
Asia and Europe have taken a further binding step. Through the
appropriate channels, the European Union and the government of China,
have ventured into the pertinent question of urbanisation together.
The results can only benefit both and this is why earlier this
autumn the commissioner for development, Andris Piebalgs, and Chen
Deming, minister of commerce of the Republic of China, signed a
financing agreement promoting the environment, transition towards a
low-carbon economy and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in China.
Development commissioner, Andris Piebalgs has said that the
“agreement with China is a concrete example of how we can work in
partnership to tackle global and shared challenges. We commend China's
commitments and we'll support their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions; to make cities cleaner and to better manage water, waste and
heavy metal pollution. The EU has a solid experience in the fight
against climate change and the path towards a green economy that we're
happy to share. The results of these projects will benefit all of us and
contribute to our common objective: a sustainable development of the
planet."
Climate Action commissioner, Connie Hedegaard, said: "Today's
agreement is an important step for an ever closer cooperation towards a
robust international carbon market. Needless to say that it makes a
significant difference when now also China wants to use carbon markets
to reduce emissions cost-effectively and boost low-carbon technologies.
Our joint commitment to carbon markets shows the potential and benefits
of smart climate policies. This is a huge opportunity to modernise our
economies, stimulate growth and create jobs in new dynamic industries
with innovative technologies and clean energy".
The EU will help China in meeting its environmental, energy- and
carbon-intensity targets and in the long run, contribute towards
achieving a global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The EU support
will result - through pilot projects - in providing technical
assistance, training and fostering exchanges of experience, best
practice and know-how in areas like the low-carbon economy and the green
economy. The three projects -for which the EU contribution amounts to
€25 million- will be implemented over a period of 4 years and focus on
areas like water, waste and heavy metal pollution, emission trading
system (ETS) and sustainable urbanisation.
*Kosta is a general Greek male name used to illustrate a point, the
story did occur to a member of the author's family as to millions of
others on our small globe.
About the Author
Managing Editor
*H Aλία Παπαγεωργίου,γεννήθηκε στη Μελβούρνη,παρακολούθησε Δημοτικό,Γυμνάσιο,Λύκειο(μπακαλοριά)στη Μελβούρνη και σπούδασε στο Πανεπιστημιοα
του ΚΕΝΤ(Αγγλία)και του Άμστερνταμ, Ολλανδίας Ευρωπαικό Δίκαιο. Τωρα είναι Αρχισυντάκτρια στην Εφημερίδα των Βρυξελλών NEW EUROPE και συγχρόνως κάνει το διδακτορικό της σταΜΜΕ και Πολυμέσα,σε αγγλικό πανεπιστήμιο. Τη στιγμή αυτη είναι μια άξια εκπρόσωπος και της Αυστραλίας και της Ελλάδας στην Ευρωπαικη πρωτεύουσα
