Apokoronas Mayor at World Cretan Congress: "We must protect Crete from uncontrolled energy development"

Summary

Apokoronas Mayor Charalampos Koukianakis delivered a passionate address at the 7th World Congress of Cretans in Chania, warning that the green energy transition must not become a cover for the unplanned industrialisation of Crete's unique landscapes and cultural heritage. He criticised the double standard that sees large private energy investments approved with ease while community energy groups struggle to secure grid capacity for local residents. Addressing Cretans living abroad, he urged them to become the voice of the island in defence of its mountains, villages and identity — warning that silence today could mean irreversible loss tomorrow.

"What kind of Crete do we want?" Mayor issues rallying call at global Cretan gathering

Apokoronas Mayor Charalampos Koukianakis took centre stage at the 7th World Congress of Cretans in Chania on July 27, 2026, delivering one of the most talked-about addresses of the congress. His question was simple but urgent: What kind of Crete are we leaving behind — one rooted in its traditions and values, or one hollowed out and abandoned?

Green energy yes — but not at any price

Koukianakis made clear he is not opposed to the energy transition. What he opposes is a transition without a plan. Crete, he argued, cannot be treated as an unlimited space for energy infrastructure. Any shift toward renewable energy must be backed by scientific evidence, genuine public consent, and strict respect for what the island can actually absorb without lasting damage.

The mayor painted a vivid picture of what is at stake: unique ecosystems, extraordinary biodiversity, ancient landscapes, and a cultural heritage that has survived millennia. None of this, he said, should be sacrificed in the name of chaotic development.

A system that favours big investors over local communities

One of the sharpest moments in his speech came when Koukianakis highlighted a striking contradiction in how energy projects are handled. Local energy communities — groups of residents who pool resources to generate and share renewable energy for their own benefit — face enormous hurdles just to secure a place in the electricity grid. Meanwhile, large commercial energy investments move forward with few obstacles.

This imbalance, he said, is not just unfair — it undermines the very idea of a green transition that serves the people.

A message to Cretans around the world

Koukianakis reserved his most emotional words for the Cretan diaspora gathered at the congress. "Crete does not belong only to those who live here today," he told them. "It also belongs to those who carry it in their hearts, wherever they are in the world."

He called on them to become Crete's voice in every corner of the globe — to stand together in defence of the White Mountains, Mount Psiloritis, Mount Dikti, the villages, and every summit that risks being transformed if people remain silent. "If we stay silent today," he warned, "tomorrow may be too late."

Heritage, not resource

In closing, the mayor drew a clear line between genuine sustainable development and what he called uncontrolled industrial exploitation — wind turbines and pylons that scar landscapes rather than serve communities. Real progress, he said, can only come through a balance between protecting nature, honouring history, and putting people first.

His final words summed up the spirit of the entire address: "Crete is not a place to be exploited. It is a legacy we inherited from our ancestors, and we have a duty to hand it on to the next generations — alive, free, and unchanged."

Official source

PRESS RELEASE – Strong message from the Mayor of Apokoronas at the 7th World Congress of Cretans

July 27, 2026, 9:03 AM

Strong message from the Mayor of Apokoronas at the 7th World Congress of Cretans: "What kind of Crete do we want — one of tradition, ideals and values, or one of abandonment and desertification?"

With particular honour, the Mayor of Apokoronas, Charalampos Koukianakis, participated as a speaker at the 7th World Congress of Cretans, held in Chania, presenting on the subject of protecting the natural and cultural wealth of Crete within the framework of the energy transition.

In his presentation he stressed that Crete cannot be treated as an unlimited space for the installation of energy infrastructure, underlining that the green transition must be carried out with a plan, scientific documentation, social consensus and absolute respect for the carrying capacity of the place.

The Mayor noted that Crete possesses unique ecosystems, invaluable biodiversity, historic landscapes and cultural heritage that must not be sacrificed in the name of anarchic development. At the same time, he highlighted the contradiction faced by local communities, noting that while energy communities are struggling to secure electrical grid space for the benefit of citizens, large investments are proceeding without substantial obstacles.

"I address all Cretans of the diaspora: Crete does not belong only to those who live here today — it also belongs to those who carry it in their hearts, wherever they may be. I call on you to become the voice of Crete in every corner of the world, to defend together the White Mountains, Psiloritis, Dikti, the villages and every summit that risks being altered — if we remain silent today, tomorrow may be too late."

In closing his speech, the Mayor underlined that sustainable development cannot be equated with uncontrolled industrial exploitation of the natural environment through wind turbines and pylons, but rather with the balance between protection of nature, history, the human being, and real progress.

"Crete is not a place to be exploited — it is a legacy we received from our ancestors and we have a duty to hand it on to future generations, alive, free and unchanged."