Mr. Panagiotis Arkoumaneasarkouman@atedco.gr

City of Athens

Climate change and the City of Athens

About Athens

Is the capital and largest city of Greece, dominates the Attica periphery.

Climate conditions: Mediterranean climate

Population: 900.000

Administrative limits: 38 km2

The greatest amounts of precipitation mainly occurring from mid-October to mid-April; any precipitation is sparse during summer and it generally takes the form of showers and/or thunderstorms.

The highest level of precipitation is occurring during December and the lowest is occurring during August. The average water supply is 415.7 mm annually.

Average annual temperature:19.30C

Strategic Mission

The Municipality of Athens recognizes the seriousness and complexity of climate change both as a global and a local issue.

It aims to become a catalyst organisation for implementing and promoting sustainable development through

direct management of its own activities, and the implementation of targeted initiatives within its established competencies

through the implementation of specific measures, aiming to inform and guide

through direct collaboration with other authorities

For all these reasons Municipality of Athens has committed to elaborate and implement a Strategic Plan for tackling climate change

Strategic Plan Implementation

Strategic plan implementation priorities have been defined according to the best practice guide of C40 initiative;

Actions are divided into eight (8) priority axis and three (3) horizontal ones:

• Priority axis 1. 1- Buildings 2. 2- Energy 3. 3- Lighting 4. 4- Renewables 5. 5- Transport 6. 6- Waste 7. 7- Water 8. 8- Green areas

Horizontal axes

1- Urban landscape planning

2- Green entrepreneurship

3- Supplement activities

Priority Axis 1: Buildings

CHALLENGE: High rates of energy consumption The energy consumed comes largely from non-renewable resources Harmful to the environment buildings within the municipality materials “Urban Heat Island” effect

AIM: Reduce Athens’ building stock carbon footprint

ACTIONS:Action 1. Installation of photovoltaic panelsAction 2. Eco-buildingsAction 3. Green Building ProgramAction 4. Internet-based CO2 emissions calculator

Priority Axis 2: Energy

CHALLENGE: Low energy efficiency of municipal and other buildings Most Athenian households still rely on oil for central heating The significant percentage of buses, municipal vehicles and taxis that

still run on diesel The extended use of non-efficient light bulbs for the external lighting of

buildings and public spaces The limited pedestrian routes and almost no bicycle lanes The mere inexistence of green roofs and green balconies

AIM: Increase performance in energy use across the municipality

ACTIONS:Action 5. Expansion of natural gas use Action 6. Expansion of network of pedestrian routesAction 7. Lower municipality fees for energy- efficient housesAction 8. Reduce Home Energy Use

Priority Axis 3: Lighting

CHALLENGE: The energy consumption for the external lighting of public buildings and

other buildings within the city area is considerable There is significant electricity consumption for the lighting of public areas

and for traffic lights Rapidly developing light pollution, along with other kinds of pollution

AIM: Reduce energy use for exterior lighting

ACTIONS:Action 9. Replacing building light bulbs with LED Action 10. Installation of lighting management systemsAction 11. Information campaign Action 12. Replacement of traffic lights Action 13. Replacing street lights bulbs

Priority Axis 4: Renewables

CHALLENGE: The use of renewable energy resources in the city of Athens is poorly

developed, usually due to the long, complicated and expensive bureaucratic permit procedures.

Lack of an integrated scheme which would incorporate the installation of renewable resource systems (e.g. photovoltaics) into the construction of new public and other buildings

Strong reactions from citizens and often municipalities

AIM: Increase renewables’ contribution to the Athens energy supply

ACTIONS:Action 14. Expansion of photovoltaic system installation Action 15. Education campaign

Priority Axis 5: Transport

CHALLENGE: Absence of cycle lanes The public transport service is still inadequate and inefficient Almost half the vehicles utilised in public transport are classed as low

emission Absence of eco-driving culture

AIM: Reduce GHG emissions from Athens transport and transport-related energy use

ACTIONS:Action 16. Establishment of a trans-municipal cycle lane network Action 17. Implementation of measures to improve the public transportAction 18. Upgrading the taxi fleet and motorcycle stockAction 19. Eco-Driving Action 20. Free parking space for “green” cars

Priority Axis 6: Waste

CHALLENGE: Rapid development in per capita waste produced Limited capacity of the available processing plants The existent fleet of garbage collection trucks is insufficient Waste management is not yet fully and successfully developed in the area

of Athens

AIM: Increase recycling and reduce non-sustainable waste production

ACTIONS:Action 21. Promote composting of biodegradable household wasteAction 22. Replacement of plastic shopping bagsAction 23. Education campaign concerning recyclingAction 24: A waste informative brochure in six languages

Priority Axis 7: Water

CHALLENGE:

Water loss in pipelines is estimated at 12% of the treated water supply

The water reserve is being reduced

High pollution from untreated wastewater as well

AIM: Improve performance in water consumption and use

ACTIONS:Action 25. Educational campaign at schoolsAction 26. Domestic and non-domestic metering

Priority Axis 8: Green areas

CHALLENGE: Limited green space available in Athens

To each of the city's estimated 907,540 inhabitants correspond 5.27 m2 of municipal and 1.57 m2 of neighbourhood green areas, making a total of 6.84 m2 per person, whereas the target is set at 7.25 m2 per person, according to accepted standards

AIM: Preserve and increase green coverage in the Athens area

ACTIONS:Action 27. Regeneration projectsAction 28. Expansion, improvement and protection of green areas in AthensAction 29. Promoting “green” initiatives in private sector

Conclusion

“YOU HAVE TO BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE”

GANDHI

Thank You