Greece vulnerable to extreme weather

Scientists say extreme weather events resulting from global climate change will continue in Greece. The bad weather is expected to affect tourism - its top source of income, and agriculture.

Greece is considered a climate change "hot spot" because of its position in the Mediterranean. In the last few years it has suffered from major drought, heatwaves, fires and floods. Water levels have been seriously affected, which have already dropped by as much as 300 meters as rainfall becomes more sparse.

Forest fires in 2007 and 2009 driven by high temperatures and extreme winds burned down hundreds of thousands of hectares of the country's rich forests.

The newly elected government has made climate change and the environment top priorities, announcing what they called a "green plan." Scientists say the interest in renewable energy projects has been great in the country.

Professor Xhristos Zerfos, said, "Greece has sun, has wind energy, and has geothermal energy, and they are in such big amounts that they can really relieve the energy demands of Greece at least 50 or 60 percent could be covered by renewable energy sources."