Athens Municipality Signs Climate Neutrality Agreement, Targeting 2030

Photo source: Municipality of Athens

The Municipality of Athens has signed a Climate Neutrality Agreement in collaboration with representatives from 75 professional bodies, research centers, academic institutions, and environmental and social organizations.

The agreement, recently signed at Athens City Hall, aims to make the city climate neutral by 2030 through a series of targeted actions.

According to the municipality, the goal of the agreement is to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and offset any remaining emissions. This approach is intended to achieve a net-zero emissions balance.

“This comprehensive strategy not only strengthens the sustainability of Athens but also demonstrates that the city is firmly committed to achieving climate neutrality, ensuring a sustainable and secure future for its residents,” said Athens Deputy Mayor for the Environment Nikos Chrysogelos.

Deputy mayor for the Environment Nikos Chrysogelos after the signing of the agreement. Photo source: Municipality of Athens

The Athens Climate Agreement 2024 outlines ten key priorities:

– Meeting up to 88 percent of the municipality’s energy needs through renewable energy sources.
– Upgrading the energy efficiency of buildings, with at least 34 percent achieving a Class B or higher rating.
– Reducing car and motorcycle traffic within the municipality and actively promoting pedestrian movement, cycling, green public transportation, and municipal transit. This includes creating more playgrounds and public spaces.
– Increasing recycling efforts, encouraging composting, reducing food waste by 30 percent compared to 2019, and supporting the circular economy.
– Planting over 35,000 trees by 2030. This includes implementing policies for green and blue infrastructure, restoring 20 percent of natural areas within the city, digitally registering all trees for data-driven management, and enforcing new regulations for green infrastructure.
– Developing an integrated water management strategy to prevent flooding, cool the city, reuse water, highlight water sources, restore natural water flow corridors, reduce water consumption from the municipal network, and save energy.
– Creating city cooling corridors to restore the microclimate in various areas, addressing the urban heat island effect.
– Establishing energy-efficient housing in the city and engaging the municipal authority in projects to upgrade the energy performance of apartment buildings and neighborhoods.
– Supporting the green, sustainable, and circular economy, creating jobs, and encouraging research and training programs.
– Implementing a social policy to address climate and environmental challenges in a cohesive and equitable manner.

Entities that co-signed the agreement include the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI); the Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen, and Merchants (GSEVEE); the Athens Traders’ Association; the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; the National Technical University of Athens (Athens Polytechnic); Elliniki Etairia – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage; and UNICEF.