The conference titled “Climate Resilience in Islands and Local Government” was successfully held by the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) on Tuesday, January 20, at the Hellenic American Union, highlighting the decisive role of Local Government in addressing the impacts of climate change with particular emphasis on the challenges facing the Greek islands. The conference took place within the framework of the Pathways2Resilience (P2R) programme – Project “SMILE – Strengthening the resilience of small and medium-sized islands with a focus on Ithaca and Skiathos,” implemented by the Climate Change Hub and ELIAMEP with the participation of the Municipalities of Ithaca and Skiathos, and with the support of the Resilient Cities Catalyst.

ELIAMEP Policy Paper titled “Climate Resilience in Islands and Local Government”

The occasion for the Conference was the presentation of ELIAMEP’s Policy Paper titled “Climate Resilience in Islands and Local Government” by Ms. Emmanouela Doussis, Professor of International Institutions at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Head of the Climate & Sustainable Development Programme at ELIAMEP, and Mr. Othonas Kaminiaris, Researcher and author of the policy paper, Expert on Environment and Climate Change issues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Within the framework of the conference, a series of thematic interventions were developed by representatives of the academia, policymakers, municipalities, and social partners, addressing issues such as: the role of local government in tackling natural disasters; the protection of natural and cultural heritage in relation to uncontrolled construction; and the importance of cooperation with local communities for the meaningful design and implementation of resilience strategies.

As Ms. Doussis noted, the study highlights a gap between the institutional framework that promotes multi-level governance and the administrative reality in Greece, where municipalities’ participation in planning and policymaking remains limited. Local Government is recognized as a critical actor in the transition towards resilience, despite the limited resources and policy tools of municipalities, especially in island areas, to fulfill their role.

Thematic interventions

Ms. Elena Lazarou, Director General of ELIAMEP, the main organizer of the event, delivered opening remarks, while Ms. Konstantina Karidi, Executive Director of Resilient Cities Catalyst and Vice President of the Climate Change Hub, set the framework of the discussion through a comprehensive and longitudinal reference to the concept of resilience. Mr. Anastasis Valvis, Assistant Professor (elected) in Diplomacy and International Organization at the University of the Peloponnese and project manager of the SMILE project, spoke about the conclusions drawn so far from the implementation of the P2R programme on the islands of Ithaca and Skiathos.

Regarding the strengthening of climate resilience and out-of-plan construction on islands, Mr. Kostas Kartalis, Professor at NKUA, member of the EU Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change and IPCC Lead Author (AR7), provided critical examples demonstrating how resilience remains fragile without an adequate institutional framework and infrastructure.

In the panel titled “Strengthening Climate Resilience in Islands and the Role of Local Government: Water, Infrastructure, Natural Disaster Management,” emphasis was placed on the importance of cultivating a culture of preparedness, prevention, and participation, as resilience strategies must be co-shaped with local communities in order to bridge the democratic deficit. Particular reference was made to water resource and waste management on islands, water reuse, as well as to the importance of innovation and digital tools.

The panelists were: Konstantinos Aravosis, Professor at NTUA and UNESCO Chair holder for Green Innovation and Circular Economy, Vice President of the Regulatory Authority for Waste, Energy and Water; Stavros Mavrogenis, PhD in International Climate Policy and Law, expert in climate change adaptation; Theodota Nantsou, Head of Policy at WWF Greece; Giorgos Sachinis, Director of Strategy and Innovation at EYDAP; Giannis Skiadaresis, Area Coordinator for Research and Innovation in Security, DG HOME, European Commission; Alexandra-Sofia Togia, CEO of the Hellenic Recycling Organization, Environmental Economist. The panel was moderated by Ms. Ntina Karatzioy, journalist at LIFO.

In the panel titled “Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage and Uncontrolled Construction,” the impacts of uncontrolled construction on the identity, landscape, and resilience of the islands were discussed, as such practices are essentially irreversible. It was emphasized that economic inequality removes land and construction from the hands of local residents, leading to the loss of traditional practices and the organic relationship between people, buildings, and the environment. A shared conclusion among all speakers was the need for central planning and cooperation among ministries, prioritizing the utilization of the existing building stock and the protection of the islands’ microclimate and cultural heritage.

The speakers  of the panel were: Eleni Alexandrou, Professor, School of Architecture, NTUA; Maria Kaltsa, Architect – research – development, Founding Partner ARC NEST PC, former Secretary General at the Ministry of Environment; Giorgos Lialios, journalist on environmental and urban planning issues at Kathimerini; Eleni Maistrou, Architect, Emeritus Professor at NTUA, President of the Architectural Heritage Council, ELLET; Nikos Charalambidis, Director of Greenpeace Greece; Efrosyni Charitopoulou, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, NKUA; Dionysia Chatzilakou, Director of Sector A’ Protected Areas, OFYPEKA; The panel was moderated by Mr. Thodoris Georgakopoulos, journalist and author.

In the panel titled “Climate Resilience in Practice: Cooperation with the Local Community,” a common conclusion was the need for the maturation of Local Government, requiring political will for substantial reforms from the central administration. Local Government, by general admission, does not possess the necessary tools and is absent from critical decisions that directly concern it. The importance of co-designing actions with local communities and collaborating with the scientific and academic community to transform knowledge into understandable information was highlighted.

The panel consisted of: Giorgos Kaminis, former Mayor of Athens; Alice Korovesis, CEO of INZEB, Coordinator of the European Climate Pact in Greece; Ioannis Konstantatos, President of the Hellenic Network of Resilient Cities (ElDAP) and Mayor of Elliniko-Argyroupoli; Grigoris Konstantellos, First Vice President of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE) and Mayor of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni; Theodoros Tzoumas, Mayor of Skiathos; and Stella Tsani, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, NKUA; moderated by Ms. Maria Logotheti, President and CEO of the Climate Change Hub, Ambassador ad honorem, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Special Advisor at ELIAMEP.

Art installation by Iris Kritikou

The event was complemented by the art installation titled “Two islands and the sea all around: traveling to Ithaca and Skiathos,” curated by Iris Kritikou, Archaeologist, Art Historian, curator. This exhibition is considered as a continuation of the “TOPOS in need” platform in collaboration with the Climate Change Hub. The two thematic island units located in the foyer formed a collective installation with the contribution of six distinguished visual artists (Katerina Kallitsounaki, Vivi Perysinaki and Chrysa Skordaki for Ithaca / Giotis Balodimos, Christos Papadakis and Katerina Tsimichodimou for Skiathos), focusing on history and memory, nostalgia for place, landscape ecology, and the exchange of valuable experience and knowledge.

Representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, the Municipalities of Athens, Skiathos and Ithaca, as well as other municipalities of Greece, regional authorities, international networks, political parties, private companies such as TITAN and EUROPA, institutional bodies, universities and civil society organizations honored the conference with their presence. The conference contributed to strengthening public dialogue on climate change by creating a structured framework for the exchange of reflections, views and conclusions, with emphasis on both the challenges and the applicable solutions to the issue through the lens of resilience.