On 29 September, the Climate Change Hub participated for the 6th consecutive year in the Athens Democracy Forum, organising the Climate Change Hub Module titled “City climate action as a key for safeguarding democratic resilience”, with the support of the Municipality of Athens and in collaboration with the Global Covenant of Mayors and C40 Cities. The event took place at Athens City Hall, placing cities at the centre of the discussion as key actors in delivering climate action and strengthening democratic resilience.

The event featured three panel discussions, bringing together representatives of local governments and international city networks, as well as climate experts, to discuss key international initiatives currently underway and explore how cities can strengthen democratic resilience through climate action. It also provided an opportunity to showcase youth-led climate initiatives developed through the Youth Climate Action Fund, in which the Municipality of Athens participates.

The proceedings opened with remarks by Maria Logotheti, Chair of the Climate Change Hub, followed by greetings from Achilleas Tsaltas, President of the Athens Democracy Forum and partner of the Climate Change Hub, and Giorgos-Konstantinos Giannaros, Deputy Mayor for Economic Planning of the Municipality of Athens, who addressed the event on behalf of the Mayor of Athens. In his remarks, Mr Tsaltas referred to the origins of the idea of the Athens Democracy Forum which began 13 years ago at the Athens City Hall highlighting the support provided by the then-Mayor Giorgos Kaminis, which helped establish a lasting institution.

Cities and the Yearly Offer of Action

The first panel, titled “Cities and the Yearly Offer of Action: Contributing to Combating the Climate Crisis and Building Resilient and Democratic Societies”, was moderated by Maria Logotheti. The discussion focused on the role of the cities in addressing the challenges of climate change and the importance of targeted climate action that delivers concrete results.

Stelios Diakoulakis, Europe Director at C40 Cities, presented the Yearly Offer of Action, an initiative established in November 2025 at the C40 Cities Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Under the initiative, cities publicly commit to delivering an ambitious climate action each year, with tangible results and social impact, thereby strengthening their credibility and position when seeking climate finance.

Vangelis Marinakis, President of the Development Agency of Athens, subsequently presented the results of the Municipality of Athens climate action as a member of the Yearly Offer of Action.

The invited Deputy Mayors from Kozani and Ioannina, cities participating in the European Mission for 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, presented their municipalities’ climate priorities and work. Giorgos Alexandridis, Deputy Mayor for Finance of the Municipality of Kozani, emphasised the importance of a just transition and holistic planning, while Thomas Giotitsas, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Planning, Programming and Digital Governance of the Municipality of Ioannina, spoke about the difficulties municipalities face in delivering meaningful work due to the lack of support from the central government. He stressed that, in the Municipality of Ioannina, addressing climate change is a cross-cutting consideration that underpins all municipal decisions and projects. 

The discussion was further enriched by contributions from Maro Evangelidou, Deputy Mayor for Urban Regeneration and Resilience, who spoke about the importance of sustainable mobility and the management and understanding of public space in the city, and Maria Stratigaki, Deputy Mayor for Equality, Municipal Clinics and Child Protection, who highlighted the importance of institutional activism and collaboration with civil society in municipal action.

Local Governments & Global Climate Science

The second panel, titled “Local Governments & Global Climate Science: Shaping the IPCC 2027 Special Report on Climate Change and Cities”, was moderated by Marnie McGregor, Senior Advisor, Strategy & Communications at GCoM.

The discussion explored how the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities can influence the way climate strategies are designed, providing a scientifically grounded basis for policymaking and action.

Veronica Castiglione, Impact Monitoring and Knowledge Junior Advisor at GCoM, opened the discussion by presenting the report-writing process, key milestones and methodology, including international meetings among scientists and authors and dedicated workshops.

The discussion then brought together Professor Dr. Niki Frantzeskaki, Chair Professor of Urban/Metropolitan Planning at Utrecht University and Lead Author of Chapter 2 of the IPCC Special Report on Cities; Professor Constantinos Cartalis, Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and Lead Author of Chapter 18 of the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report (AR7); Dr Ioannis Tsipouridis, Consultant Engineer, Senior Research Fellow at Strathmore University and Adjunct Professor at Great Lakes University Kisumu (GLUK); Paul Nelson, Founding Principal of Resilient Cities Catalyst; and Konstantina Karydi, Managing Director, Resilient Cities Catalyst Europe, Vice President, Climate Change Hub, Greece, and MCAP Secretariat.

Drawing on their respective expertise and experience, the speakers explored how climate change can be addressed effectively at the city level, with the IPCC report providing an important framework for connecting scientific knowledge with local action.

The discussion highlighted the importance of translating scientific knowledge into action and the value of a dedicated IPCC focus on cities. Particular emphasis was placed on making the report accessible in different languages so that its findings can be more readily understood and applied at the local level, supporting the exchange of experiences and the development of partnerships. The need for a horizontal approach to climate risks, the integration of the specific needs of cities—particularly vulnerable areas—into broader urban planning, and the inclusion of social indicators in climate strategies were also strongly emphasised.

The discussion concluded that moving from pilot actions to institutionalised, long-term strategies is essential for achieving a successful transition towards more resilient cities.

From Ideas to Action with Impact

The event concluded with the third panel, “Youth Climate Action Fund: From Ideas to Action/Impact: What It Takes to Build a Youth-Led Climate Project”, moderated by Vasiliki Maltasoglou, General Coordinator and Communications Manager of the Climate Change Hub.

The panel brought together Dr Emilia Bouriti, Artistic Director of Synergasia; Lefteris Stergianopoulos, Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPF); Anna Porichi, Ecotivity; Marios Arabatzis, We are Community / Athens Comics Library; Petros Kartsimadakis, Trofi Lab; Yvonne Melissa, Syniparxis; and Evi Makri, Beak-On.

Through examples of projects implemented within the Youth Climate Action Fund of Bloomberg Philanthropies, the discussion explored how young people’s ideas can be transformed into participatory actions with meaningful environmental and social impact.

The participants presented initiatives addressing sustainable food and urban food systems, the circular economy, environmental education, climate justice, culture and local community engagement. Common themes included meaningful youth and student participation, collaboration, connecting projects with real needs in the city, adapting communication to young people’s needs, and systematically measuring results so that initiatives can achieve greater and more lasting impact.

The Climate Change Hub Module was attended by representatives of local government, institutions, private companies, academia and civil society organisations, as well as young people and students. Members of the Climate Change Hub’s Leadership Council also attended the event.

In closing, Maria Logotheti reflected on the role of governance in addressing the climate crisis, emphasising that its role is to provide a framework for action and support those driving change. “We need to do things differently from now on. We are looking forward to seeing you in 2027 with a new thematic focus!”