Athens  - Global warming will curb rainfall and fuel forest fires throughout Greece, Christos Zerefos, one of two Greek scientists awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to combat climate change said Wednesday.

"From 2031 until 2060, Greece will see its rainfall dwindle by 25 per cent and its sea level rise up to 20 centimetres and the period of risk for forest fires will increase by up to three weeks," he was quoted by the Greek daily Kathimerini.

Zerefos is also the president of the National Observatory in Athens. He and a group of scientists and experts from NASA, tried to access the impact of climate change in the region by studying meteorological changes between 1961 and 1990.

He said the impact on climate change on Greece will be most severe in the country's north, where temperatures are expected to rise by an average of 3 degrees Celsius over the next 25 years mainly due to its distance from the sea and lack of wind, while southern parts will be the worst hit by desertification.

Zerefos made the comments just as the country was battling a mini heatwave on Wednesday, with temperatures expected to rise to up to 37 degrees Celcius.

The Greek scientist said people will need 25 per cent less energy for heating but 100 per cent more energy for cooling. (dpa)