Athens Mayor Looks to Take Action on Civil Protection Issues, Climate Change

(L-R) Attica Region candidate Nikos Hardalias with Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis. Photo source: Athens municipality/ Vassilis Lambiris.

Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis on Monday met with Nikos Hardalias, candidate for governor of Attica Region, to discuss critical issues of civil protection and ways to shield Athens from effects from climate change.

“Our meeting took place just after another great catastrophe,” Bakoyannis said, referring to the recent damages in the city caused by Storm Daniel.

Bakoyannis and Hardalias agreed that the challenges of the new era require a closer collaboration between the first and second levels of local government, a common front for the prevention and management of extreme weather phenomena, but also the acceleration of the necessary institutional changes so that the entire local government can prepare and respond.

“Athens has made significant progress in recent years, but there is still a long way to go before the city is ‘protected’,” said Bakoyannis.

Omonia Square in Athens.

Bakoyannis and Hardalias said they would work together to develop a comprehensive plan to protect Athens from the effects of climate change.

Thε plan would include measures to improve the city’s infrastructure, such as its drainage system and its fire protection system. It would also include measures to educate the public about the risks of climate change and how to prepare for them.

“Our main priority is to protect Attica from the consequences of the climate crisis,” Hardalias said.

“By operating a fully equipped and adequately staffed Regional Civil Protection Center, developing and implementing an integrated civil protection system and providing the Region and its municipalities with modern equipment and resources,” he added.

Having previously served as the mayor of Vyronas for 11 years, Hardalias from 2020 was Greece’s Deputy Minister of Civil Protection and Crisis Management until he was appointed Deputy National Defence Minister following the past national elections. He is running for the position of Attica regional governor in the upcoming local elections 0n October 8, supported by New Democracy.