Athens Climate Lab: A dialogue on climate change for Athens

CASE STUDY

Case Studies

Athens Climate Lab: A series of workshops to strengthen the dialogue on climate change in Athens

Who are the key stakeholders influencing the discussion on climate change, and what dynamics and relationships emerge among them?

Athens Climate Lab was a series of workshops aimed at enhancing the conversation on climate change in Athens. This initiative was organized by Global Shapers Athens Hub and among, with the support of Eurolife.

Climate change was already affecting Greece a lot in 2021 when these workshops took place. The climate crisis will continue to affect our world even more in the coming years. Decades of discussions and efforts around climate change have driven initiatives, movements, and organizations to provide significant work. However, despite numerous proposed actions to address climate change in Athens, implementing remains a challenge.

Who are the key stakeholders influencing the climate change in Athens? What dynamics and relationships emerge among them and shape the environment we live in?

Through this workshop series, we created an online space for stakeholders to engage in dialogue, identify the key challenges that affect climate action in Athens, and propose innovative solutions.

100 participants

8 hours of systemic thinking

20 representative organisations

The workshops were based on systemic impact methodology. They focused on providing a deeper understanding of critical issues and encouraging meaningful collaboration.

The thematics of the workshops were:
1️⃣ The impact of climate change on Athens: Exploring how climate change affects the city and its residents.
2️⃣ A systemic study of climate change in Athens: Researching the topic through holistic, interconnected lens.
3️⃣ Envisioning the ideal Athens: Imagining a sustainable future for the city.
4️⃣ Bridging the gap between the vision and reality: Identifying practical steps to move from aspiration to action.

This approach allowed participants to engage in deep reflection, exchange diverse perspectives, and co-develop innovative solutions for a more resilient Athens.

More than 100 participants participated in the workshops, including representatives from civil society organizations, academia, local government, European institutions, businesses, media etc.

The discussions were guided by the systemic impact methodology, which examines the fundamental changes that influence our system. The workshops also strengthened networking among participants, fostering connections across sectors.

Athens Climate Lab led to the first-ever mapping of key stakeholders influencing climate change discussions in Athens. This systemic visualization captured the relationships and dynamics between these actors, offering valuable insights into the city’s climate governance landscape.