I really like the slogan Bindu mentioned: if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

Actually, I have a lot of plans for 2016. This is the year I make my university applications. It is a very hard but enjoyable and rewarding work. My goal is to study Environmental Engineering so that I will have what?s needed to work for sustainable development, in terms of energy, waste management, or infrastructure in developing countries.

Last year gave us a gift: COP21 agreement, against global warming. Some years ago, people concerned with the danger of the greenhouse effect were not taken very seriously. Now, almost all world leaders recognize the problem and are taking measures against it. I understand that environmental protection is a fight that can bring great results its aims, no matter how high, can be very successful, if they get the needed awareness and are properly justified. At the end of the story, we are all passengers in the same ship. In 2016, I will participate in what is needed so that the ambitious goals of COP21 are met. That is in my opinion our greatest bet for 2016.

However, because as the saying goes: "think globally, act locally", and my local environment is changing and developing, these are my 2016 plans for my country Greece, as well as for Europe as a whole:

Try to convince people that the benefits of wind turbines and photovoltaic cells are much greater than their "aesthetic appearance" (will ever technology be able to embellish the environment?), always respecting the regulations for protected areas.

Raise awareness for the need of modernization of waste management plants. We do not need or want more and bigger landfills. What we need is better waste management processes which will increase the recycling-material recovery rates and create compost from organic waste. This way, we will have higher recycling rate, fewer landfills with all their consequences, including those of polluting land and water, and fewer GHG emissions.

Follow in my daily life and prompt my peers make the same to the 3R principle: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Participate to the campaigns to protect my country's very sensitive coasts, especially in the islands, from pollution and improper exploitation.

Volunteer to the protection of endangered species, starting from sea turtles Caretta caretta, Allonisos's monk seals, Pindos's bear, Gypaetus in Greek mountains.

Last but not least, I will participate to the initiatives for the protection of the architectural heritage of my city, Athens, in a culturally (and not only) hard period, which is an important parameter in our everyday environment.


I will do the best I can to fulfill these goals, so that at the end of 2016 I will be able to say that my plan didn't fail.