Environment, Energy and Climate Change Minister Yiannis Maniatis has benchmarked 71,000 euros for the funding of a project aimed at “researching and addressing environmental parameters in the materials of ancient monuments.”

The project’s goal is to create a network of monitoring stations measuring corrosion and the coating of materials due to atmospheric pollution as a way of protecting historical and cultural monuments. The first and main monitoring station will operate at the University of Athens. It will initially cover the region of Attica and will then expand to other areas, with the emphasis cast on locations of historic significance.

The network will research the effect of atmospheric pollution on selected materials that are manmade, including those of historical monuments. A database with information concerning the impact of pollution and climate chane on these materials will be created in order to allow for the adoption of effective deterrant policies. The network also hopes to determine the socioeconomic impact of material decay, as a result of the atmospheric pollution and climate change.

Ultimately, the results of the project will help to formulate legislation on a national and European level so as to determine the limits of pollution allowed in urban and rural areas to deter material corrosion.
The project is funded as part of the programme “Technical Help with Funding Programmes” from the Green Fund.

The project is paid for from the Green Fund, specifically the “Technical Help with Funding Programs” section.