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Climate Law

Law 4936/2022 — Articles 19 & 20 — GHG Reporting, Verification & Declaration

Article 19 Installations — 30% Reduction by 2030
Article 20 Specific Sectors — Annual Carbon Footprint
EU Reg. 600/2012 Accredited Verifier Requirement
NECCA Public Electronic Database
Legal Framework

Law 4936/2022 — The Greek National Climate Law

Law 4936/2022, published in the Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ A’ 105/27.05.2022), establishes Greece’s legislative framework for achieving climate neutrality by 2050 in line with the European Green Deal. Articles 19 and 20 create specific, enforceable obligations for installations and enterprises to measure, report and reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The two articles address different categories of obligated entities and impose distinct requirements, timelines and penalties. Both require the engagement of an accredited independent verifier and submission of data to a publicly accessible electronic database managed by NECCA (Οργανισμός Φυσικού Περιβάλλοντος και Κλιματικής Αλλαγής — ΟΦΥΠΕΚΑ).

Legal basis: Law 4936/2022, Articles 19 and 20, Government Gazette ΦΕΚ A’ 105/27.05.2022. Both articles reference the requirements of EU Implementing Regulation (EU) 600/2012 for the accreditation and recognition of verifiers.
19
Reduction of Emissions from Installations Μείωση εκπομπών από εγκαταστάσεις — Law 4936/2022, Article 19

Article 19 applies to Category A projects and activities (under Law 4014/2011, Article 1) that fall within specific Groups of the environmental classification framework and are not covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS / ΣΕΔΕ). These installations are required to achieve a minimum 30% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 compared to their 2019 baseline, expressed per appropriate unit of product or output depending on the type of activity.

Scope — Article 19

Which Installations Are Covered

The obligation applies to Category A installations falling within the following Groups of the environmental classification ministerial decisions, provided they do not already participate in the EU ETS:

4th Group

Environmental Infrastructure Systems

Waste treatment and disposal installations, landfills, composting, wastewater treatment facilities and similar environmental infrastructure.

6th Group

Tourism, Urban Development & Recreation

Tourist installations and accommodation, urban development projects, buildings, sports and leisure facilities.

7th Group

Poultry & Livestock Installations

Intensive poultry and livestock farming operations of the scale classified under Category A environmental assessment.

8th Group

Aquaculture

Fish farming and aquaculture installations meeting the thresholds for Category A environmental classification.

9th Group

Biotechnology & Related Installations

Biomechanical activities, biogas installations and related biotechnology operations (per KYA 92108/1045/Φ.15/4.9.2020).

Multiple installations: Where an operator controls more than one similar installation, aggregate emission totals across those installations may be used for the purpose of demonstrating compliance with the 30% reduction target. Emissions from EU ETS-covered fixed installations of the same operator may also be included in this aggregate.
20
Measures for Reducing Emissions from Businesses Μέτρα για τη μείωση εκπομπών από επιχειρήσεις — Law 4936/2022, Article 20

Article 20 requires specific categories of legal persons to submit an annual carbon footprint report to a publicly accessible electronic database operated by NECCA (ΟΦΥΠΕΚΑ). The report must include voluntary targets and actions for emission reduction or offsetting, and is updated and verified annually. The first report covered reference year 2022 with an initial submission deadline of 31 October 2023.

Scope — Article 20

Which Businesses Must Report

Article 20 applies to the following specific categories of legal persons. The obligation is defined by organisational type and sector, not by a generic size threshold.

Listed Companies

Anonymous companies (AE) with shares or other securities listed on a regulated market in Greece.

Credit Institutions

Banks and credit institutions under Article 3 para. 1 of Law 4261/2014.

Insurance Companies

Insurance undertakings per Article 3 para. 1 case (a) of Law 4364/2016.

Investment Firms

Investment companies per Article 4 para. 1 case (a) of Law 4514/2018.

Telecommunications

Fixed and mobile telephone companies operating in Greece.

Water & Sewage

Water supply and sewage/wastewater management companies.

Courier Companies

Express delivery and courier service companies.

Energy Suppliers

Electricity and natural gas supply companies operating in Greece.

Retail Chains

Retail chain store operators employing more than 500 employees.

Logistics Companies

Logistics service providers per Article 1 case (d) of Law 4302/2014.

Urban Public Transport

Urban public transport companies providing scheduled passenger services.

Excluded: Small and micro enterprises as defined in Article 2 of the Annex to EU Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC (6 May 2003) are expressly excluded from the scope of Article 20.
Emissions Calculation

Recognised Methodologies & Emission Scopes

Article 20 paragraph 3 specifies the exact methodologies to be used. Emissions must be calculated per the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (as amended), covering direct and indirect emissions as defined in the GHG Protocol or ISO 14064-1:2018.

Scope 1 — Mandatory (Category 1)

Direct GHG Emissions

Emissions from sources owned or directly controlled by the reporting entity. As defined under the GHG Protocol “WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE” and ISO 14064-1:2018 Category 1.

  • Stationary combustion (boilers, furnaces, generators)
  • Company-owned vehicle fleet
  • Industrial and process emissions
  • Fugitive emissions (refrigerants, leaks)
Scope 2 — Mandatory (Category 2)

Indirect Emissions from Energy

Indirect GHG emissions arising from the consumption of purchased electricity, heat, steam or cooling. Defined as ISO 14064-1:2018 Category 2 and GHG Protocol Scope 2.

  • Purchased electricity consumed on-site
  • Purchased district heating or cooling
  • Purchased steam for process or space heating
  • Calculated using national GHG inventory emission factors
Emission factors: The law explicitly requires the use of conversion factors from the most recent national GHG inventory (εθνική απογραφή εκπομπών) for converting final energy consumption into equivalent tonnes of CO₂ (tCO₂e). These are published by the Ministry of Environment & Energy.
Scope 3 / Category 3: Article 20 does not currently mandate Scope 3 (value chain) emissions for the obligated sectors. However, the Ministry of Environment & Energy is mandated by paragraph 5 to examine sector-specific targets (by 1 January 2025), and EU CSRD/ESRS already requires Scope 3 for listed companies. MBO recommends voluntary Scope 3 tracking from the outset to future-proof your reporting framework.
Standards Applied

Accepted Reporting Frameworks

Article 20 paragraph 3 permits either of the following two internationally recognised frameworks, applied at Categories 1 and 2 (Scopes 1 and 2):

Primary Reference

2006 IPCC Guidelines for National GHG Inventories

The foundational methodology, applied as amended. Provides the overarching framework for identifying, quantifying and reporting emission sources.

Option A

GHG Protocol — World Resources Institute

The GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard, widely used by private sector organisations globally for Scope 1 and Scope 2 reporting.

Option B

ISO 14064-1 : 2018 — Categories 1 & 2

The ISO standard for quantification and reporting of GHG emissions at organisational level. Category 1 corresponds to Scope 1 and Category 2 to Scope 2 indirect energy emissions.

Article 19 — Methodology: For installations under Article 19, the report must follow EU Implementing Regulation 2018/2066 (for ETS-covered installations) or equivalent provisions as specified in the relevant environmental licensing authority requirements.

GHGs Covered

CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, HFCs, PFCs, SF₂ and NF₃ — all converted to tCO₂e using the most recent IPCC Global Warming Potential (GWP) values referenced in the national inventory.

Reference Year & Baseline

Article 20: first reference year is 2022. Article 19: the reduction target is measured against the 2019 baseline, with 30% reduction required by 2030.

Legal Requirement

Independent Verification

Both Articles 19 and 20 require that emission reports be reviewed and verified by an officially recognised independent verifier before submission. The verifier must be a natural or legal person recognised in accordance with Joint Ministerial Decision KYA Φ.01.2/56790/ΔΠΠ1828/31.5.2016 and meeting the minimum competence requirements of EU Implementing Regulation (EU) 600/2012 of the Commission (21 June 2012) on verification of GHG emission reports and accreditation of verifiers.

Regulatory basis: EU Regulation 600/2012 sets out the criteria for the accreditation and competence of GHG verifiers under the EU ETS Directive 2003/87/EC. In Greece, recognition is administered by ESYD (Hellenic Accreditation System) as the national accreditation body, or through an equivalent EA-MLA member body. For ETS-covered installations under Article 19, verification also follows EU Regulation 2018/2067.

What the Verifier Examines

Completeness of Emission Sources

The verifier checks that all relevant Scope 1 and Scope 2 sources within the defined organisational and operational boundary have been identified and included.

Data Quality & Traceability

Activity data (fuel consumption, energy purchased, process outputs) must be traceable to primary sources, invoices, meter readings or calibrated instruments. Data gaps and estimates must be documented and justified.

Calculation Methodology

The verifier confirms that the correct IPCC/GHG Protocol or ISO 14064-1 methodology has been applied, and that the latest national GHG inventory emission factors have been used for energy conversion.

Verification Statement

Upon satisfactory conclusion, the verifier issues a formal verification statement. This statement must accompany the GHG report when submitted to the NECCA database (Article 20) or the licensing environmental authority (Article 19).

Article 20 — “Self-audit” terminology: Paragraph 4 of Article 20 refers to “αυτοελέγχους” (internal audits / self-checks) that the legal person commissions from the verifier. This does not mean the company performs the audit itself — it means the annual compliance check is delegated to a recognised external verifier, functioning as a mandatory third-party review.
Pre-verification preparation: MBO conducts a structured internal review of your GHG report before the independent verifier is engaged — identifying gaps, inconsistencies or documentation shortfalls. This step reduces verifier queries, shortens the verification timeline and can lower the overall cost of the external verification process.
Data Integrity

Measurement Instruments & Calibration

When GHG emissions are quantified using direct measurement methods — rather than activity-data calculations — the accuracy and traceability of instruments is a central concern for the verifier.

Instruments such as continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS), gas analysers (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O), flow meters and on-site fuel metering equipment must be calibrated at defined intervals by accredited laboratories (ESYD-accredited or equivalent EA-MLA member). Calibration certificates must demonstrate traceability to SI units and be available for inspection during verification.

Where technically feasible, MBO helps organisations design internal cross-verification protocols — for example, mass-balance cross-checks or duplicate measurement points — that can validate instrument readings without additional external laboratory costs. This approach is particularly applicable to fuel consumption and stationary combustion sources.

Practical note on costs: Calibration costs depend on instrument type, quantity and required frequency. For many organisations, the use of activity-data methods (fuel purchase invoices, utility bills, production records) avoids the need for expensive direct measurement equipment entirely, reducing both capital outlay and ongoing calibration expenditure while still meeting the legal requirements of Articles 19 and 20.
ISO 10012 — Measurement Management ESYD Accreditation EA-MLA Traceability CEMS Mass Balance
How MBO Helps

Our Consulting Services

MBO provides a complete, end-to-end compliance service for both Article 19 (installations) and Article 20 (specific business sectors) — from initial assessment and emission calculations through to verified report submission.

Obligation Assessment

We determine whether your organisation or installation is subject to Article 19, Article 20, or both — reviewing your sector, legal form, operational category and environmental licensing status.

Boundary Definition & Source Identification

We define the correct organisational and operational boundaries, identify all Scope 1 and Scope 2 emission sources, and select the most appropriate reporting framework (GHG Protocol or ISO 14064-1).

Data Collection & Emission Calculations

We design a structured data collection process, gather activity data and calculate emissions using IPCC-aligned methodologies and the national GHG inventory emission factors as required by the law.

GHG Report Preparation

We prepare a fully documented report covering all emission sources, methodologies, data quality assessments and uncertainty analysis — structured to meet verifier expectations under EU Regulation 600/2012.

Pre-Verification Internal Review

Before the independent verifier engages, MBO reviews your report for gaps, inconsistencies or documentation deficiencies — reducing verifier queries and shortening the overall timeline.

Verification Support & Liaison

We act as your representative during the independent verification, respond to verifier queries and help you select a suitable EU Regulation 600/2012-recognised body for your specific sector and scale.

NECCA Platform & Authority Submission

We manage the complete submission of your verified report to the NECCA (ΟΦΥΠΕΚΑ) public database (Article 20) or to the licensing environmental authority (Article 19), ensuring all required fields are correctly populated by the statutory deadline.

Annual re-reporting: For subsequent reporting years, MBO offers a streamlined annual update service. Once boundaries, sources and systems are established, annual data refresh and report update requires significantly less effort than the initial engagement.
CSRD alignment: For listed companies already obligated under Article 20, MBO can extend the GHG inventory to Scope 3 categories and align the reporting format with ESRS E1 requirements under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), avoiding duplicate effort across regulatory obligations.
Our Process

Compliance in Seven Steps

A clear, structured process covering both Articles 19 and 20 of Law 4936/2022.

Obligation Assessment & Scoping MBO

We determine which article applies to your organisation, review your environmental licensing status (for Art. 19) or legal form and sector (for Art. 20), and confirm the applicable reporting methodology and deadlines.

Boundary & Source Mapping MBO

Definition of organisational and operational boundaries, identification of all Scope 1 and Scope 2 emission sources, selection of GHG Protocol or ISO 14064-1:2018 as the reporting framework, and assessment of data availability.

Data Collection, Instrument Review & Calculations MBO

Structured collection of activity data (invoices, meter readings, production records). For direct measurement sources, we review calibration records and, where applicable, design internal cross-check protocols. Emissions are calculated using national GHG inventory emission factors.

Report Preparation & Pre-Verification Review MBO

Preparation of the full GHG report with methodology documentation, data quality assessment and uncertainty analysis. MBO then conducts an internal pre-verification review to identify and resolve any issues before the independent verifier is engaged.

Independent Verification Recognised Verifier

The officially recognised verifier reviews the report and supporting evidence against EU Regulation 600/2012 requirements. MBO liaises on your behalf and responds to verifier queries. The verifier issues the formal verification statement upon satisfactory completion.

NECCA Database / Authority Submission MBO

For Article 20: submission of the verified report and verification statement to the NECCA (ΟΦΥΠΕΚΑ) public electronic database. For Article 19: submission to the licensing environmental authority. Deadline management and confirmation receipt.

Record-Keeping & Annual Cycle Planning MBO

We archive all supporting documents, calibration certificates and submission confirmations. For Article 19, we also monitor progress against the 30% reduction target. We set up the annual data collection cycle to ensure next year’s reporting is more efficient and less demanding.

Enforcement

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Law 4936/2022 specifies administrative sanctions for both late submission and failure to achieve the required emission reductions.

Article 19 — Installations

  • Late report fine per day of delay, capped at 0.1% of annual gross revenue
  • Missing 30% target administrative fine based on deviation from target, capped at 0.5% of total turnover (last filed tax return)
  • ETS installations additional sanctions under the EU ETS Joint Ministerial Decision (Art. 31 of KYA 181478/965/26.9.2017)

Article 20 — Businesses

  • Late report fine of 50 per day of delay, capped at 0.01‰ (per mille) of total turnover (last filed tax return)
  • No specific penalty for voluntary target shortfalls (targets are currently voluntary under Art. 20)
  • The Ministry may establish sector-specific mandatory targets by 1 January 2025 per paragraph 5

Need to comply with Law 4936/2022?

Contact MBO for an initial consultation. We will determine which article applies to your organisation, explain the requirements clearly and provide a tailored proposal covering all steps through to platform submission.

Request a Consultation