Athens

20 Sep Athens

Athens, the birthplace of democracy and one of the world’s ancient cradles of civilization is at the forefront of European sustainable urban transformation.

Despite recent economic drawbacks, Athens’ mayor Kostas Bakoyannis is optimistic in his approach to transform the ancient city into a modern, green metropolis. The Great Walk project, approved in 2020, is Athen’s largest-ever urban initiative and looks to create a 6.8-kilometre open pathway in the city’s historic center by 2022 to increase public space and decrease the city’s congested traffic arteries. The project has so far seen a 20% decrease in traffic and carbon emissions on the notoriously busy Panepistimiou Avenue. The city also launched a pocket park project to promote green mobility and lower carbon emissions and the city’s high temperatures, including construction of one in the bustling Pagrati neighborhood. More recently, the city voted to transform the city’s main central square, Syntagma Square, by widening sidewalks, reducing traffic lanes and installing ramps for people with disabilities. The Greek center seeks to reinvent itself with a healthier sustainable environment in preparation for the expected return of its lucrative tourism sector.

Beyond the health crisis, the municipal and federal governments are prioritizing green redevelopment of the economy through sustainable financial models, including a USD 48 million investment into entrepreneurship, jobs and social support in Athens. The city has recently updated its digital strategies to provide remote processes, which is speeding up efficiencies and lowering the carbon footprint related to logistics and traditional bureaucracy. Mayor Bakoyannis has been steadfast in his sustainable strategies since being elected in 2019 to prove that Athens is more than its historical sites; the city has as much a foot in the sustainable future of urban life as it does in its colorful past.