Articles

Estimation of carbon sequestration in vineyards in the island of Crete, Greece

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Climate change consists of a serious global environmental problem and many efforts are focused on its mitigation either by reducing the anthropogenic carbon emissions or by absorbing atmospheric carbon. Agricultural crops usually absorb carbon via photosynthesis acting as carbon sinks. Viticulture is well developed in Crete, Greece since ancient times and the island nowadays produces several well-known grapes and wines. The carbon uptake in Cretan vineyards in Crete has been evaluated. The carbon sequestration rate in vineyards from existing studies in several countries has been used for the evaluation. These studies indicate that carbon uptake in vineyards varies in a wide range of values at 69 – 900 g C m-2 yr-1.  The total surface area of vineyards in Crete is 22,184 ha while their annual carbon sequestration has been estimated at 55,460 t C corresponding at an annual carbon sequestration per capita 0.36 t CO2. Although our results should be considered as indicative, they show that carbon sequestration in Cretan vineyards is not negligible and it should be considered in policy development regarding decarbonization in the island. Our results could be useful to policy makers and to stakeholders of the viticulture industry in the island.

Possibility of Using Agrivoltaics in Vineyards in The Island of Crete, Greece

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The clean energy transition in Europe and worldwide requires the generation of electricity from zero-carbon energy sources including solar and wind energy. Solar photovoltaics are in the forefront of clean energy technologies used in the decarbonization of the global power system. Agrivoltaics is an emerging solar energy technology that allows the dual production of electricity and agricultural products in the same land area. The possibility of installing agrivoltaics in vineyards in the island of Crete, Greece has been studied. Several published papers assessing the use of agrivoltaics in vineyards in several countries have been reviewed while their benefits and challenges have been stated. It has been estimated that installation of agrivoltaics in vineyards in Crete covering 1% of their surface with coverage ratio at 15% and 30% can generate electricity meeting 2.6% and 5.2% of Crete’ annual electricity demand respectively. The generated electricity can cover the electricity demand of 20,800 and 41,600 households respectively in Crete. Although there are not sufficient data assessing the use of agrivoltaics in vineyards it is concluded that, under specific conditions, they have many benefits regarding the dual production of electricity and grapes. Our results indicate that installation of agrivoltaics in Cretan vineyards, under limited shading, can offer an additional income to farmers improving the growth and yield characteristics of the cultivated vines. Our result could be useful to many stakeholders of Cretan viticulture.

Decarbonization of the Cheese Making Industry on the Island of Crete, Greece

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Cheese making is a well-developed activity in the island of Crete, Greece since a long time ago. It is mainly based on local sheep’ and goats’ milk while the small-scale cheese making plants in Crete use conventional energy sources to meet their heat and electricity demand. However, solar energy and solid biomass are abundant in the island and they are currently used for heat and power generation. Elimination of carbon emissions in cheese making plants in Crete can be achieved with the replacement of grid electricity and fossil fuels used with local renewable energies such as solar energy and solid biomass. It has been estimated that complete elimination of the operational carbon emissions due to energy use in a small-size cheese making plant in Crete with annual capacity 120 tons cheese can be achieved with the installation of a solar photovoltaic system at 88 kWp for electricity generation and the annual use of 62.86 tons of olive kernel wood for heat production. Additionally, solar thermal systems and high efficiency heat pumps can be used for heat and cooling production. The abovementioned sustainable energy sources and technologies are mature, reliable, cost-efficient and they are currently used in Crete in various sectors. The results of the present study could be useful to all stakeholders of the cheese making industry in the island.

Carbon Emissions from Cruise Ships: A Case Study in The Ports of Souda and Heraklion, Crete, Greece

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Modern cruise ships consume considerable amounts of energy and emit large quantities of greenhouse gases during their luxury trips compared with other types of tourism. During the last years the ports of Souda and Heraklion, Crete host a large number of cruise vessels. The carbon emissions of cruise ships during their mooring in the abovementioned ports have been estimated using data from the existing literature. The alternative fuels which can be used in these cruise ships decreasing their emissions have been also examined. The carbon emissions from the mooring of cruise vessels in Souda port in 2024 have estimated at 16,505 tnCO2 while in Heraklion port at 30,537 tnCO2. Cruise ships face mounting pressure to reduce their environmental impact and alternative fuels are central to this transformation. Several alternative fuels including LNG, biofuels, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, and electricity can be used in cruise ships substituting the fossil fuels currently used like heavy fuel oil. The ports of Souda and Heraklion should develop the necessary infrastructure to provide alternative fuels and on-shore electricity to cruise vessels approaching these ports in the near future. The current study could be useful to ports’ authorities in Crete, to cruising companies as well as to the stakeholders of Cretan ports.

The Degrowth of Tourism Industry in the Island of Crete, Greece. Is it Desirable and Feasible?

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The concept of degrowth has been developed recently as an alternative paradigm to continuous and unlimited growth which prevails nowadays. The degrowth of tourism industry has been proposed in overcrowded tourism destinations balancing the satisfaction of tourists and local residents with the sustainability of the natural ecosystems. The island of Crete, Greece is located in eastern Mediterranean basin hosting an increasing number of visitors every year. The tourism industry in the island is well developed having a high economic impact. The prosperous tourism industry in Crete has surpassed the carrying capacity of the island threatening its fragile ecosystems causing phenomena of overtourism with undesired and harmful impacts in the local societies. The degrowth of the local tourism industry can be conceived as an alternative paradigm of the current growth model of tourism which threatens its long-term sustainability. It rejects the current model of continuous and unlimited growth of tourism promoting the values of locality, development of small-scale enterprises, quality of life, environmental sustainability, reduction of carbon emissions, decommodification of tourism activities and smaller production and consumption. The adoption of tourism degrowth in Crete requires the mobilization and the active participation of the multiple stakeholders of the tourism industry in the island while it promotes their long-term interests which are currently threatened by overtourism, climate crisis and overconsumption of the limited natural resources.

The Use of Chat GPT in Assessing the Tourism Industry in the Island of Crete, Greece. A PESTEL Analysis

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The tourism industry in Crete, Greece is well developed nowadays hosting an increasing number of visitors every year. However, it is affected from various external factors which might reduce its attractiveness as a popular tourism destination worldwide. PESTEL analysis can facilitate the development of a strategic management plan for the local tourism industry. The PESTEL methodology analyzes the political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors which affect the hospitality industry in the island.  Instead of using the opinion of tourism experts and tourism stakeholders the opinion of Chat GPT was used in the current study. The language model responded promptly and rapidly and its answers were further analyzed. Chat GPT identified four to five factors in each PESTEL category affecting the tourism industry in Crete. Its answers were almost similar with the opinion of several stakeholders regarding the external factors influencing the tourism in the island. The results of our study are innovative and useful while they could be used for the development of a strategic management plan for tourism in the island. This is necessary for the promotion of its sustainability and attractiveness as a global tourism destination. Our study could be useful to several stakeholders and policy makers of the tourism industry in the island in order to develop a strategic management plan for the hospitality industry in Crete.

The Use of Chat GPT for the Assessment of the Tourism Industry in the Island of Crete, Greece: A SWOT Analysis

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Artificial intelligence and the language model Chat GPT have increasing uses in several sectors including the tourism industry. The island of Crete, Greece is a popular global tourism destination with a flourishing tourism industry. Chat GPT has been used for the assessment of the island’s tourism industry according to SWOT methodology. The responses of the abovementioned language model regarding the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of tourism industry in Crete have been analyzed and it was found that they were adequate and satisfactory. Chat GPT has identified the internal advantages and vulnerabilities of tourism industry in the island as well as the opportunities and risks imposed by the external environment. The results given by Chat GPT were in accordance with the views of tourism experts and tourism stakeholders indicating that artificial intelligence can be used supplementarily to human analysis in the tourism sector. The results of the current study and the responses of Chat GPT can be used by policy makers and tourism stakeholders in Crete for the development of rational and effective policies regarding the future of the local tourism industry.