Project Goals

The SMILE project is part of the broader Pathways2Resilience (P2R) programme (CINEA GA 101093942), an initiative that supports the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. The Pathways2Resilience programme aims to support 100 regions and municipalities across Europe in developing resilience strategies and strengthening long-term planning capacities. To achieve this, it provides, among other resources, access to a wide range of technical tools for designing climate resilience strategies, action plans, and investment roadmaps.

Small islands like Ithaca and Skiathos face heightened vulnerability to climate change due to extreme weather events, sea level rise, seismic activity, and limited resources such as freshwater and arable land. Climate-related impacts strain their ecosystems, threatening food security, infrastructure, and key economic sectors such as tourism and agriculture. These challenges are exacerbated by limited adaptive capacity and existing social vulnerabilities, making urgent action essential to build resilience and support sustainable development.

As part of the P2R programme, the Municipalities of Ithaca and Skiathos, in collaboration with the Climate Change Hub and ELIAMEP, and with the support of founding partner Resilient Cities Catalyst, are undertaking the process of designing their Local Climate Resilience Strategies and Investment Implementation Plans. This process will be carried out through a series of capacity-building workshops, joint expert meetings, and interregional working groups.

The project’s objective is to equip Ithaca and Skiathos with key tools and strategic frameworks to develop resilience pathways based on best practices and shared experiences. This will enhance the capacity of public authorities, local communities, and other stakeholders to effectively address climate-related challenges. Citizen engagement will play a critical role in the co-design of these adaptation pathways, fostering ownership and community participation in resilience-building efforts. Through collaboration and knowledge exchange facilitated by the project, the two islands are set to strengthen their resilience to climate impacts and contribute to broader regional and EU adaptation goals.

Project Overview:

The SMILE project includes:

• A series of on-site interactive resilience strategy workshops in Ithaca and Skiathos, 
• Stakeholder meetings and formation of local working sub-groups on each island,
• Baseline Assessments for each island,
• Mapping of local climate actions on the platform cchub.eu,
• A dedicated conference, and
• The development of a policy paper.

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Pathways2Resilience has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101093942. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.