The first Living Lab for Metropolitan Athens, as part of the CARMINE project, successfully took place.

On Thursday, December 5, “New Metropolitan Attica S.A.” and the National Observatory of Athens successfully organized the first stakeholder workshop titled: “Resilience to Extreme Heat: Innovative Solutions for a Cooler Athens.”

In recent years, the capital has been experiencing increasingly intense heatwaves and high temperatures, raising the risk for vulnerable population groups such as the elderly, people with chronic illnesses and the homeless. Urban overheating, combined with drought and water shortages, presents significant challenges for both residents and visitors.

In response to the increasing effects of climate change across all sectors of life — from the environment to the economy and public health — the project CARMINE (Climate-Resilient Development Pathways in Metropolitan Regions of Europe), funded by the Horizon Europe programme, held in Athens the first of three collaborative workshops for stakeholders going under the title of Living Labs. The aim was to strengthen adaptation and mitigation measures in addressing the climate crisis. Engaging in a range of activities, participants contributed their expertise and experience toward shaping the best strategies for enhancing Athens’ resilience to high temperatures and the related impact of climate change.

Key activities included:

• Mapping of health risks during a heatwave scenario
• Assessment of current adaptation & mitigation measures and development of new proposals for Metropolitan Athens
• Identification of enabling factors, as well as impediments, involved in the implementation of adaptation & mitigation measures
• Prioritization of proposed solutions based on urgency and feasibility
• Geospatial Planning Activity based on Nature-based Solutions (NbS)

A major topic of discussion was the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, which is particularly intense in densely populated areas. It is of particular concern that the  temperature difference between central Athens and the suburbs can reach up to 10°C, with serious consequences during hot summer days. Particular attention was also given to current adaptation and mitigation strategies.

The workshop included extensive discussion on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) — strategies that protect, conserve and restore natural or modified ecosystems while addressing multiple social challenges with the necessary effectiveness and flexibility. An example discussed was the Adrianeio Aqueduct; its application for local irrigation needs and its integration with transformative projects in the neighborhoods it traverses.

The first Living Lab in Athens brought together scientists and representatives from organizations involved in urban development, climate resilience and social protection.

The European programme CARMINE – Climate-Resilient Development Pathways in Metropolitan Regions of Europe – was launched in February 2024 and is funded by the Horizon Europe programme. It includes 32 partners from 11 European countries.

Read more about the CARMINE project here: https://carmine-project.eu/