The worst of the 2009–2018 economic crisis appears to be over, and Greece is now posting strong GDP growth figures and attracting significant foreign investment. Due to its location, the country is the first point of arrival for many people fleeing violence abroad, yet, despite a complete lack of social housing, Athens has relatively low levels of socio-economic segregation compared to similar European cities.
Despite being a coastal city and one of the hottest in Europe, Athens is making slow progress in decarbonising its built environment and embedding resilience. National, regional, and local adaptation plans have been developed, and the Athenian Resilience Strategy has explicit references to protecting vulnerable populations, equitable access to resources, and enhancing transparency and accountability in governance. However, these policies have not translated into significant climate action, largely because they are not supported by specific goals and accompanied by resources for implementation.
The impact of nascent efforts is mixed: the Exoikonomo renovation programme is resulting in higher rents that are displacing communities, a process called renovictions; and a relatively low unionisation rate stifles the 1.5 million potential green construction jobs. The Ellinikon development, converting the old airport into a new green urban extension, is promising but could end up being an exclusive, luxury city. On the other hand, the emergence of civil society organisations and the influence of the EU are contributing to a growing culture of participation and evaluation that gives cause for optimism.
For more information, read the Athens City Summary Report
Opportunities for the green transition
Antiparochi is a mechanism, used in the past, to increase housing supply and attempt to lower prices through mutual exchange. In this case, individuals exchanged land or existing houses with developers who built blocks and reimbursed the owner with several apartments in return. A similar initiative, led by the public or private sector, could help address unaffordability whilst minimising urban sprawl.
The Greek government has announced plans to regulate the status of up to 300,000 undocumented migrants to address labour shortages, particularly in the construction and agriculture sectors. However, decent working conditions must also be ensured to effectively address these labour shortages. The proposed legislation is not exempt from criticism as it does not grant family reunification rights, and is limited to three years, but the International Organisation for Migration and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees have welcomed it as a positive first step.
The synAthina platform is a government-led hub for civic engagement launched in 2013 “geared towards problem identification, problem-solving and political reform”, filling a civic engagement gap and launching hundreds of projects across the city, from litter-picking to the inclusion of marginalised groups. One of Europe’s first municipal platforms for participatory decision-making, synAthina has been commended as a pioneering example of public sector innovation by the OECD.
Risks from the green transition
The government-led Exoikonomo programme offers financial incentives for energy-saving renovations. It has been successful in reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, but it predominantly benefits property owners with sufficient financial means to invest in renovations. The programme does not appear to benefit owners with less means, along with renters, who may experience further rent increases, particularly when public funding is used to improve ageing buildings. A local architect stated: “Development in Athens has climate justice as a pretext, but just leads to price increases which aren’t mitigated by policies to protect housing rights. Where green renovations happen, apartment prices increase.”
City Future Vision: Athens
Socially-innovative, equitable, resilient, and progressive
Athens has adapted to climate and social challenges. Affordable, renovated, and climate resilient homes are provided uniformly across the city, thanks to social innovation, the optimisation of empty buildings, and the introduction of social safeguards. Equitable access to green areas and public transportation throughout the city increases climate resilience and keeps segregation low. Businesses meaningfully engage with CSOs, particularly trade unions, offering stable and high-quality employment, and invest in the social economy, meeting local needs. CSOs collaborate with governments to develop green policies and monitor their impact, raising awareness of climate action, guaranteeing transparency, and enabling citizens to shape the city.
See the full insights report from the Athens visioning workshop held on 25 January 2024
New economic model
Adopt Your City
Pocket parks are small gardens developed in previously unkempt corners of the city’s densely populated neighbourhoods. They were created through the Adopt Your City platform, which fosters partnerships between the Municipality of Athens and companies, associations, or citizens willing to take on the cost of urban improvements. By 2024, ten pocket parks had been created: some examples are the support of the Deloitte Foundation to create a small garden in Kypseli in 2020, or the support of Organization Earth in 2022 to develop another one in Neos Kosmos. These parks improve biodiversity, mitigate against the worsening urban heat island effect, help address loneliness, particularly for older citizens, and even contribute to reducing crime.