The primary objective of the Kifissia Municipality Climate Week initiative is to raise overall awareness and actively engage the local community in addressing the challenges of the climate crisis. Its aim is to bring the message of the green transition to the grassroots level of the city and connect it with the daily lives of every resident, transforming information and awareness into knowledge, participation, and meaningful action.

Climate Week is an organized initiative by the Municipality of Kifissia designed to strengthen climate awareness within the local community and mobilize citizens through a multidisciplinary program of activities, open dialogue, informative events, experiential workshops, and collaborative partnerships. It also seeks to highlight both the challenges and opportunities arising from the climate crisis and to identify practical solutions that can improve the quality of life in the city, both immediately and in the long term.

At the same time, it aims to educate students across all levels of education, encourage citizens to adopt greener everyday habits, and establish a stable channel of communication between scientists, organizations, and local government for the exchange of expertise and best practices, while setting measurable goals and new priorities for the future.

The ultimate goal is for Climate Week to become an effective tool for participation, dialogue, education, networking, and strategic planning—an open platform through which the city listens, learns, co-creates, and moves forward with purpose and clear direction.

The initiative is addressed to all citizens of the Municipality, while also providing opportunities for direct interaction among scientists, academics, institutional and business stakeholders, professionals, members of the school and wider educational community, associations, businesses, environmental organizations, and volunteer groups.

At the same time, it engages all organizations, groups, and stakeholders involved in the everyday life of the city, inviting them to contribute their views, expertise, and proposals on critical issues related to climate resilience and the city’s adaptation to the new environmental and climatic conditions.

The initiative takes place annually, in early November, and runs for one week, featuring daily events and activities.

The Kifissia Climate Week is a comprehensive initiative of the Municipality aimed at strengthening climate resilience and creating an active ecosystem of cooperation among the Municipality, the scientific and educational communities, institutions, businesses, and citizens. It is held annually in early November and features a wide range of educational activities and informative events.

Under the central theme “Climate Resilience and the Local Community,” the second edition, held in 2025, featured eight thematic events, a two-day Student Conference, experiential workshops, and innovation activities. The program brought together 71 speakers and moderators, approximately 100 students from 11 schools across Attica, and 200 primary school children, and ran for one week. The 2024 edition followed a similar format and attracted comparable participation, providing a comprehensive overview of climate resilience and the practical challenges faced by municipalities.

The Climate Week has consistently followed a structured, multi-level format, comprising a central conference at the Goulandris Natural History Museum, educational programs for primary school students, and thematic events hosted at various locations throughout the Municipality, including City Hall and the school facilities of participating schools.

Last year’s initiative stood out for its participatory and cross-sectoral character, linking public dialogue with the Municipality’s strategic planning in key areas of climate resilience, including the adaptation and resilience of the urban environment, the protection of natural resources, waste and water management, the circular economy, sustainable urban mobility, civil protection, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation. At the same time, it showcased innovative Smart City applications, including drones and sensors, as well as the Municipality of Kifissia’s European OpenDBL program for the digital management of buildings.

A key innovation of the event was its successful effort to strengthen the active participation of the local community, and particularly of the younger generation. Special emphasis was placed on young people through a two-day Student Conference, held at the end of the week and organized by the 2nd General Lyceum of Kifissia – Lyreion Educational Centre. At the Conference, students from schools in different areas presented their ideas and proposals for strengthening climate resilience through a student symposium based on UNESCO models and principles. At the same time, the 2nd Kindergarten of Nea Erythraia, the 5th Primary School, and the 8th Kindergarten of Kifissia designed and presented their own environmental initiatives, which were incorporated into the wider program.

Finally, Climate Week was used as a tool for participatory planning and the collection of citizens’ views as part of the development of the Kifissia Urban Resilience Plan. The initiative also gained international recognition at the European level, receiving a message of support from Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission. This recognition further confirms the momentum and significance of Climate Week as a model for local action aimed at strengthening climate resilience.

The Municipality of Kifissia is the main implementing body of the Kifissia Climate Week initiative. The Municipality delivers the event through a broad network of institutional, scientific, and educational partnerships, ensuring the necessary expertise, consistency, and credibility. The Green Fund was the strategic partner of the 2025 edition, while the initiative is supported, as appropriate, by public authorities with relevant areas of responsibility, including the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, the Ministry of Digital Governance, and the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, as well as by the European Commission, through patronage and institutional support.

More specifically, in the scientific and research field, the Municipality of Kifissia works closely with the Goulandris Natural History Museum, universities and technical universities, as well as the Benaki Phytopathological Institute—institutions based in the Municipality of Kifissia that have been long-standing partners of the Municipality in other initiatives and European programs. The Municipality also collaborates with the Hellenic Passive House Institute (EIPAK), laboratories and organizations specializing in the Circular Economy, the National Hellenic Research Foundation, as well as STEAM laboratories focusing on Educational Technology. These partners contribute specialized expertise and training programs

In the educational sector, ongoing cooperation has been established with the Directorates of Primary and Secondary Education of B’ Athens, facilitating the meaningful and coordinated integration of environmental activities and educational programs into schools across the area. At the same time, the initiative forms part of a broader framework of dynamic partnerships at both national and international level, strengthening networking, knowledge exchange, and the dissemination of best practices in the fields of climate resilience and environmental education.

Municipal staff from different departments, educators, academics, volunteers, students, and citizens participate in the initiative, contributing to the organization and implementation of the individual activities and fostering the active engagement of the local community in a productive and effective manner.

Information and awareness-raising campaign, participatory environmental initiative, and education and community engagement program.

Climate Week enhances citizens’ environmental awareness and understanding, increases community participation in sustainability initiatives, strengthens collaboration between the Municipality and local stakeholders, and promotes the adoption of environmentally responsible behaviors.

The initiative strengthens the Municipality’s role as a pioneer in local climate governance, reinforces the relationship of trust with citizens, showcases the Municipality’s environmental initiatives, and creates the conditions for developing new partnerships and European initiatives. At the same time, it enhances the Municipality’s outreach, profile, and visibility at both national and European level.