eKathimerini — As heating oil price increased in the new year, the Environment Ministry on Monday issued a warning against the use of fireplaces and wood-burning stoves amid concerns of a build-up of toxic smog, especially in cities.
Smoke from fires during the cold spell that hit the whole of Greece last week increased particulate levels and air toxicity to levels that are causing concern.
“We warmly urge citizens to respond positively to this recommendation,” the ministry said, adding that it is monitoring conditions on a 24-hour basis.
Many Greek households have converted to wood burning stoves during the crisis years as they can no longer afford to buy heating oil to keep warm.
Perhaps the government thinks that ‘warmly advising’ will convince people to suffer the cold without any form of heating. Advise alone is not a substitute for having a coherent environmental policy with financial inducements to switch to a less harmful form of heating.
