OCCUPYING THE SOUTHERNMOST part of the Balkan Peninsula and more than 1,400 islands, Greece is an ancient land of great beauty and diversity. The culture of classical Greece was a shaping force in the art, literature, philosophy, and politics of the Western world. Modern Greece is a nation of 11 million people, 60 percent of whom live in urban areas. Athens alone is home to more than three million, and more than 50 percent of Greek industry is located in Athens. The population explosion into Athens and other urban areas that began in the mid-20th century has intensified concerns about air pollution and its effects on human health and the environment.

The Kyoto Protocol, to which Greece is a signatory (along with more than 20 other ...