Climate Change Hub participates for the 5th consecutive year at the Athens Democracy Forum, organising an entire module titled «The climate crisis in a world where democracy is in crisis.  How can cities speed up the transformation process while strengthening democratic processes?».     

In these turbulent times cascading events of socioeconomic and climate crisis bring forward deficiencies of global governance in various levels (international, national,local). Highlighting a specific thematic every year regarding climate change, this year CCHub Μodule through its panel discussions aims at exploring in depth the intersection of global crises, climate change, and social cohesion while answering the question of whether resilience in environmental, economic, and social spheres can be strengthened through democratic governance, while examining also the role of local actors and public participation.   

The Climate Change Hub ( CCHub ) Module, organised in collaboration with  Democracy and Culture Foundation , will take place on October 1st 2025 at Athens Conservatoire (Aris Garoufalis Auditorium) from 09:30 to 13:00.   

The event consists of two panel discussions with distinguished speakers from Greece and abroad. In the first panel titled “The Climate Crisis in a World Where Democracy Is in Crisis”, the participants are: Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens, Giorgos Papakonstantinou, Professor of international political economy School of Transnational Governance European University Institute, Former Minister of Economy and Environment, Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy (Greater London Authority), and Loukas Tsoukalis, Professor at the Paris School of International Affairs, Sciences Po and President of the Board of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP).  In the second panel titled “How Can Cities Accelerate the Transformation Process While Safeguarding Democratic Principles?” the participants are: Maria Vassilakou, CEO of Vassilakou Urban Consulting (Former Deputy Mayor of the City of Vienna) and Member of the EU Mission Board for the 100 Climate-Neutral Cities by 2030, Giannis Georgizas, CEO of Development Athens, Stelios Diakoulakis, Deputy Regional Director for Europe, C40 Cities, Member of the Strategic Council of the Climate Change Hub, Marnie McGregor, Strategic Advisor, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy and Haris Biskos, Urban Expert.

The CCHub module will be framed by the Artistic exhibition titled « TOPOS  in need» curated by Iris Kritikou, Archaeologist, Art Historian, curator, with the participation of distinguished Greek visual artists, as well as the Museum of Greek Children, which will take place at the Ω2 auditorium .   

Through the combination of discussions and the art exhibition, we aim to offer a more comprehensive and alternative perspective on the issue of the climate crisis, while exploring the international and European context, the local level, and the role of art as a means of documentation, expression, and intervention in addressing this urgent challenge in a world where democracy is in crisis.   

Iris Kritikou, curator of th exhibition “TOPOS in need” states: “Understanding the place as a dense reservoir of geographical particularities of often unique beauty, of human existence in interdependence, of recognizable cognitive patterns, of the circulation of ideas and cultural patterns linked to thoughts and feelings, actions and recognizable structures of achievement, we simultaneously realize its fragility. The fragility of an inhabited “garden” of geophysical and human beauty, which, being attacked from everywhere, despite its uniqueness, despite its inability to reproduce, calls for help.” 

Registration is required for participation. Subscribe here .   

Please find the Agenda .