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Time of India
4 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Can Europe's warmest city keep its cool this summer?
Athens , the warmest capital in mainland Europe , is facing growing pressure from a surge in tourism and increasingly extreme summer temperatures . As more visitors arrive during peak travel months, authorities are working to keep both residents and tourists safe in the heat, as per a report by CNN. Greece 's capital is expected to welcome a record 10 million visitors in 2025. But during the summer, temperatures regularly exceed 40°C. This has forced the closure of the Acropolis, the city's most visited site, during the hottest hours of the day to protect visitors and staff. Officials say the Mediterranean is warming faster than the global average, turning Athens into a hotspot for both tourists and heat risks. 'Tourists often underestimate the heat,' said a local guide Iris Plaitakis to CNN. 'They don't bring water or wear hats.' Athens is already one of the least green cities in Europe and has a high population density, making it more vulnerable to heatwaves. In response, the city has set up emergency cooling centers, planted trees, created small shaded parks, and installed water fountains. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) The city's mayor, Haris Doukas, says adapting to the climate is now critical. 'Building resilience is a matter of survival,' he said. The goal is to reduce the perceived temperature by 5°C through urban planning, such as planting microforests and using materials that absorb less heat. Live Events You Might Also Like: France mandates online visa appointment system for all travellers Longer term, Athens is working on large projects like Ellinikon Park, set to become the city's largest green space. It's being built on the site of the city's old airport and is expected to attract around one million tourists each year. However, the rising demand from tourists also puts stress on local infrastructure, raises inflation, and pushes real estate prices higher. Locals are increasingly concerned about the effects of tourism on daily life. Many fear being priced out of their neighbourhoods, while water shortages and wildfires are also becoming more common. Tourism remains an important part of the Greek economy, especially after the country's financial crisis. A record 36 million tourists visited in 2024, and the number is expected to reach 40 million by 2030. But with climate risks rising, authorities are encouraging travel during spring and autumn, when the weather is milder. For now, the city continues to adapt. Tourists are advised to visit museums and indoor attractions during the heat of the day and explore coastal areas or historic neighbourhoods in the evening, when temperatures drop. As the sun sets, Athens returns to its lively outdoor rhythm — a way of life that may help it meet the challenges of a warming future. You Might Also Like: Mount Etna erupts: Tourists urged to heed safety warnings
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Global mayors discuss green, youth development in Shanghai
SHANGHAI, May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from Mayors and representatives of 26 cities across 22 countries have gathered in Shanghai for the ongoing Global Mayors Dialogue and the 2025 Shanghai International Friendship Cities Cooperation Forum, which kicked off on May 28. Sub-forums are themed "Urban sustainable development empowered by green and low-carbon strategies" and "Youth vitality inspiring urban innovation for the future". The forum runs until May 31. Gong Zheng, mayor of Shanghai, said at the opening ceremony on May 29 that having established friendship-city relationships with 95 cities in 59 countries, Shanghai will continue to expand its network of friendship cities, explore new models of cooperation, and elevate exchanges and cooperation to a new level. "We will focus on expanding economic and trade exchanges, promoting green transformation and upgrading, strengthening scientific and technological collaborations, and enhancing mutual understanding between people," he said. Haris Doukas, mayor of Athens, Greece, stressed the role of city diplomacy in tackling the climate crisis. "City diplomacy has allowed cities to lead the way, to achieve important partnerships for prevention, to share knowledge, to set brave and specific goals through participation in international networks and forums, and to reduce the burdens of the climate crisis," Doukas said. Shanghai and Athens established a friendship-city relationship in January. "Climate change is the defining challenge facing our shared world today," said Dan Boyle, lord mayor of Cork, Ireland, adding that "the spirit of international cooperation, which informs gatherings like today, can give us some optimism that this challenge facing all of humanity will be met." On the same day, the Letter of Intent for Friendly Cooperation and Exchanges was signed between Shanghai and Vientiane, the capital of Laos, while the MoU on the Establishment of Friendly Exchanges was signed between Shanghai and Tbilisi, Georgia. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Europe's hottest city battles to keep its cool as tourists arrive for another scorching summer
Climbing to the top of the Acropolis of Athens, the birthplace of democracy, has always been a feat for the brave. Never more so, perhaps, than in recent summers when the city has sweated through long and perilous heatwaves. In the past two years, during peak tourism season, relentless heat has repeatedly forced authorities to shut Greece's most-visited site during the hottest hours of the day to protect visitors and staff from temperatures exceeding 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). The UNESCO World Heritage site has little shade. Standing among the exquisitely-crafted white marble columns of the Parthenon as they reflect the fierce Mediterranean sun can feel more like an endurance test than the fulfillment of a childhood dream — especially when the smoke from out-of-control wildfires drifts across the horizon. And it's not just the Acropolis. Athens has always been scorching in the summer, but never to current levels. It's the hottest capital in mainland Europe but witnessed record highs in 2024, a situation that's becoming the new normal. The Mediterranean as a whole is warming up faster than the global average. With travel to Greece booming, officials say Athens is forecast to welcome a record 10 million visitors this year. Those arriving in July and August will be on a collision course with yet more extreme temperatures, predicts the country's national weather service, creating a perfect storm of tourism and scorching weather. The situation has raised existential questions for Greece and its relationship with the visitors whose spending power has helped the country out of crisis during financially turbulent times. Increased tourism means increased pressure on scarce water resources and infrastructure. It also means inflation, pushing locals out in favor of wealthy incomers. A much-talked-about opinion article in the Greek press suggested that the country's single-minded pursuit of maximum tourism no longer made sense, and that Greeks were in danger of losing their birthright. 'Starkly put, we are bequeathing the subsequent generations of Greeks not just a massive pile of debt, but also a summerless Greece,' it said. Trepidation about the months ahead, when the sun will once again bake down, is high. And yet, amid the fear, there is certainly hope — and a realization that the country must adapt or face disastrous consequences. For the mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, 'building resilience is a matter of survival.' Managing those high temperatures alongside the surge in summer tourists has become a priority. In the short-term, that means early-warning systems for heatwaves and real-time monitoring of temperature data, along with fountains, air-conditioned cooling centers and shady pocket parks are all in place to provide relief. Emergency services have been put at the ready, including around the foothills of the Acropolis, to assist visitors experiencing discomfort. 'Tourists often underestimate the heat, especially those from colder climates,' says Iris Plaitakis, a tour guide who regularly visits the Acropolis. 'They don't think to wear hats or bring enough water. You're much more exposed to the sun and heat up there because of the higher elevation and lack of trees and other shade.' Extreme heat is incredibly dangerous. 'Heatwaves are responsible for more than 80% of deaths caused by weather and climate events in Europe,' says Ine Vandecasteele, a European Environment Agency urban adaptation expert. In the longer term, Athens faces the challenge of reshaping a city that has become a concrete heat sink with limited green spaces — it's one of the least green cities in Europe and the second-most densely populated after Paris. To complicate things, Greece, and Athens in particular, is home to one of the oldest populations in Europe, a demographic at risk from extreme heat. In 2021, the city became Europe's first to appoint a dedicated 'chief heat officer' to promote and coordinate adaption and resilience strategies, as it began focusing on nature-based solutions to reduce the heat-island effect, which sees cities becoming much hotter than the surrounding natural environment. 'In just over a year we have planted 7,000 trees which is difficult in such a densely built city. We want that number to reach 28,000 in four years. We are also establishing green corridors,' says Doukas, the Athens mayor. 'Athens is rethinking urban infrastructure, redesigning roads and selecting heat-absorbing materials.' Resilience-building initiatives include the creation of detailed heatwave maps that enable targeted interventions. Among them is the creation of a microforest, Greece's first, in Kypseli, Europe's most densely populated neighborhood. 'The goal is to lower perceived temperatures by 5 degrees Celsius within five years by creating targeted microclimates,' says Doukas. In the leafy Chalandri suburb, the revitalization of a second-century Roman aqueduct to irrigate green spaces and cool neighborhoods has gained much attention. 'The aqueduct transports water that would otherwise go to waste,' says project manager Christos Giovanopoulos. 'When the new pipelines are operational this summer, we'll save 80,000-100,000 cubic meters annually.' Heavily built up and covered in graffiti, modern Athens bears little resemblance to the idyllic location people chose to settle millennia ago. Back then it offered proximity to both mountains and the sea, a mild climate, verdant and abundant resources and flowing rivers — the same waterways that were concreted over during rapid urbanization in the 1950s and 1960s to build highways. And some of that concrete will now have to go, says Juanjo Galan, an associate professor of urban planning at Spain's Technical University of Valencia, who has watched his own city undergo a green revolution, being named European Green Capital 2024 for its achievements in green transition and climate neutrality. 'In Spain, we say you cannot make an omelet without breaking some eggs,' says Galan. 'Like Valencia, Athens will have to break some concrete, invest in green infrastructure and heat-absorbing materials. It will take some time but can be done.' One major project already underway is reconnecting Athens with the sea that defines so much of life in the rest of Greece. With enchanting ancient wonders and picturesque jasmine-scented alleyways in its historic center, it is easy for visitors to forget that Athens is actually very close to the Greek coast and many beautiful coves and beaches. Athenians have always known this, often heading out of town to cool down. And now their city is following suit, expanding along the waterfront, revamping an area recently branded The Athens Riviera. Stretching south 50 kilometers (about 30 miles) from the main port of Piraeus, the coastline is home to organized beaches, quality restaurants and five-star hotels and resorts. It is also where the country's largest-ever urban green transformation is taking place at Ellinikon, Athens' decommissioned former airport. The 600-acre mixed-use private development will include Greece's first skyscraper — the 50-floor Riviera Tower, which will house luxury sea-view apartments. At the heart of the project is the Ellinikon Metropolitan Park. Projected to become the largest green area in Athens and one of the biggest coastal parks in the world, it's expected to attract a million tourists annually. The role of tourists in Athens' future is a contentious issue. On one hand, they're seen as a lifeblood. During the 2010s, when Athens was the epicenter of a painful financial crisis that saw Greece's GDP slashed by a quarter, it was tourism that brought the economy back. On the other hand, Athenians have found themselves increasingly priced out by gentrification partly driven by tourism, and are concerned about the impact of the industry on a city stretched to the limits by extreme heat. Real estate prices along the coast have hit the roof, with many prime Athens properties now in the hands of big international investors and others transformed into boutique hotels and global luxury chains that pull in more visitors. Those same hotels are installing aircon and swimming pools to keep their guests cool in a city with already stretched power and water supplies. Many Athenians are anxious about the summer ahead, with official reports about falling reservoir water levels regularly making the TV news. The situation is exacerbated by the extensive wildfires that have destroyed 40% of forested areas around their city in less than a decade — the blazes fanned by similar, windy conditions seen in the recent Los Angeles fires and, like in LA, worsened by man-made climate change. Meanwhile, with tourism still a key economic driver, Greece must continue to tap the industry while trying not to get burned. And despite the challenges facing Athens and the rest of the country, tourists are expected to keep coming. A record 36 million came in 2024, over three times the country's population. Data analysts Fitch Solutions says the number is expected to hit 40 million by 2030. 'People come from all over the world to understand, and experience, the cradle of Western civilization, to see where Aristotle and Plato walked, where the first modern Olympics were held,' says Plaitakis, the archaeological guide. 'This cannot be recreated. And it will always bring people to Athens.' As with other overtouristed destinations around the world, Athens is hoping to try to funnel some of its peak summer-season tourism into shoulder or even off-peak times Mild temperatures in spring and early fall present an ideal opportunity to explore the city's landmark sites, vibrant art scene and fun-loving, laid-back culture. And with colder months also becoming milder, Athens is a growing winter destination, mostly for northern Europeans, hungry for olive-oil-drenched Greek-salad-and-moussaka days and fresh-fish-and-ouzo nights. Athens' efforts to keep cool can already be seen. In the historic center, tourists are learning to drink their iced coffee like locals, nice and slow — a cooling companion to see them through the hottest part of the day. At information points, smiling young women advise tourists, in polished English, to purchase tickets to the Acropolis in advance to avoid long lines and the midday sun. If the Acropolis is temporarily off limits due to extreme heat, Plaitakis suggests heading to 'the top three' as a cooler option: The Acropolis Museum, the National Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Cycladic Art. To take in some coastal views, she advises to 'start at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, designed by the great Renzo Piano, and stop for a dip and a Greek taverna lunch at one of the many beaches on the way to the magnificent Temple of Poseidon, a sunset destination.' As daylight dwindles, and temperatures cool down, the city's energy rises around an outdoor culture that features open-air cinemas, live performances and a vibrant nightlife. Greeks are famously late-night eaters and known to occupy every available space at bars, beaches and benches waiting for their city to cool down. A form of climate adaptation by default. A Mediterranean way of life that needs to up its game in a time of climate emergency.
Forbes
26-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas To Promote Travel, Sustainability In Shanghai This Week
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas will travel to Shanghai this week as part of efforts to deepen what he has described as an 'excellent relationship' with the global business and innovation hub. The May 28–30 visit follows the formal signing of a sister city agreement between Athens and Shanghai in Greece's capital in January. 'The twinning of the two cities strengthens their cooperation across a wide range of areas of mutual interest, including tourism, culture, sports, entrepreneurship and innovation, education, urban regeneration, resilience, and sustainability,' the mayor's office said via email. During his first official visit to Shanghai, Mayor Doukas will explore new opportunities in sustainable mobility, tourism and innovation, according to the statement from his office. To that end, he will participate in ITB China, a three-day travel and trade fair being held in Shanghai this week that ranks among the largest of its kind in the country. Last year, China's Juneyao Airlines launched direct flights between Athens and Shanghai, reportedly boosting Chinese tourist arrivals to Greece by 30%. Doukas—who continues to serve as a professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens—is also scheduled to meet with Chinese electric bus manufacturer Higer. 'The meeting will serve as a starting point for the exchange of know-how and best practices in sustainable transportation, as the city of Athens is considering the launch of a municipal commuter service using electric vehicles,' the mayor's office said. According to his official biography, Doukas has nearly two decades of experience in designing policies and programs to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy management at both the national and European levels, as well as in Africa and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Doukas has also been invited to speak at the opening of the Shanghai International Friendship Cities Cooperation Forum 2025. He is scheduled to take part in a session focusing on how cities monitor environmental pollution and promote the sustainable recycling of social resources through green and low-carbon transformation—advancing long-term sustainable development, his office said. In addition, he will visit the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, or COMAC, and the Greek department of the Shanghai International Studies University, and speak at a dinner hosted by popular Greek-themed Shanghai venue Hellas House. Greece, which faced a major economic crisis a decade ago, has since experienced a strong rebound and a booming tourism sector under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Morgan Stanley forecasts Greek GDP growth of 2.2% in 2025. Major Chinese investors in Greece include COSCO Shipping and State Grid. In an interview with Forbes China in Athens last month, Doukas expressed optimism about expanding ties with Shanghai. 'Technology transfer and other areas of expertise are critical for us. We have many things to discuss in those sectors," he said. "Furthermore, culturally, both cities have a long history and rich culture. We strongly believe that a multicultural environment is essential nowadays. Finally, Shanghai has made important strides in creating a green urban environment. A sustainable, green Athens is a major priority for our city, and this is an important element of our cooperation with Shanghai,' Doukas said. 'We believe it's vital to understand the changes brought by digitalization and to create smart neighborhoods, where waste management, lighting, and citizen participation are all interconnected. Shanghai has achieved important results with cutting-edge technology,' he added. Other prominent Athens-based visitors in Shanghai this week include Antigoni Lymperopoulos, CEO of the Hellenic Development Bank of Investments, or HDBI, and Panagiotis Karampinis, CEO of Endeavor Greece.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Tentative tree planting 'decades overdue' in sweltering Athens
ATHENS: On a cloudy spring morning in one of Athens' most densely inhabited districts, thousands of fresh saplings dotting a small hilltop park mark a fledgling effort to tackle crippling heat that critics say is long overdue. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This is Athens' first "micro-forest", part of an initiative by recently elected mayor Haris Doukas to plant 5,000 trees annually in the thickly concreted city, where in summer the thermostat routinely tops 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Planting vegetation is crucial to help cities beat the heat, scientists say, as climate change stokes hotter and more intense heatwaves and the so-called "urban heat island" effect amplifies temperatures among tightly packed buildings. But the knee-high plants in Alepotrypa park ("foxhole" in Greek) in Athens' Kypseli neighbourhood will need around a decade to mature. They are "too little, too late," said Katerina Christoforaki, an architect and urban planner at the National Technical University of Athens, who has worked on past city redevelopment projects. Athens' last major overhaul came when it was preparing to host the 2004 Olympic Games. But most of the attention fell on stadium construction and transport, not greenery. "We haven't given the proper attention on reducing vehicle traffic or upgrading building infrastructure," she said. Most of the capital and its roads were built with materials that are over 40 years old, with buildings absorbing heat in the summer and offering poor insulation in winter, she said. Meanwhile, a number of key public urban planning agencies were defunded and sidelined during the near-decade long Greek debt crisis, she said, adding that most of the emphasis today is on boosting tourism infrastructure. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Athens' deputy mayor for climate, Nikos Chrysogelos, is one of the country's most experienced ecology activists and a former Greens European Parliament lawmaker. On a table in his cluttered office, there are maps showing temperatures in each district of the capital and the areas most vulnerable to heatwaves. Chrysogelos agrees that Athens "lost an opportunity" to strengthen its defences against heat around the time it hosted the 2004 Olympics. "From 2000 onwards we could have done much more, because we knew the scale of the problem," he told AFP. Not only has the greater Athens area of nearly four million developed haphazardly, but the Greek capital has also lost 60 percent of its surrounding forests to fire in recent years, Chrysogelos said. In addition, high-rise buildings on the Athenian coast have kept the sea breeze from cooling the city, he said. Central Athens is the second most densely populated area in Europe after Paris, according to Eurostat. According to OECD data, there are only 0.96 square meters of green space per resident, far short of the World Health Organization's recommendation of at least nine square meters per capita. Ivvona Kujda, a housekeeper originally from Poland who has lived in Athens for over 30 years, said recent heatwaves in the city have been "harrowing". "The way Athens is situated, there's mountains on three sides. Which means we are essentially in a boiling kettle," Kujda said. In 2021, a heatwave that saw city temperatures reach 45C was described as the worst in three decades. Two years later, more records were broken as a sustained heat wave saw temperatures consistently top 40C. The National Observatory of Athens said July 2023 was the warmest on record since it began monitoring data in 1863. WWF officer Achilleas Plitharas formerly headed the environment group's Green Spaces programme and worked on resilience plans with the Athens authorities until 2019. "It's not that Athens missed the train. We never even built the rails for a train," Plitharas told AFP. He said the city now needs a far more drastic solution than pocket parks to boost its climate resilience, including potentially the demolition of entire city blocks and "the creation of extensive green corridors". That requires political will and tough choices. "It also requires a culture of cooperation, which we lack," Plitharas said. In office since January 2024, mayor Doukas has said planting 25,000 trees by 2028 should help bring down perceived temperatures by three to five degrees in summer. New sensors will also provide real-time temperature data neighbourhood by neighbourhood on the hottest days, to better plan an emergency response if needed. Athens' wider aim to become carbon neutral by 2030, including making dozens of municipal buildings more energy efficient and encouraging low-emissions transport, will require some 6.5 billion euros (7.39 billion dollars) in EU and national funds, plus private investment. Meanwhile, people do what they can to stay cool. Housekeeper Kujda works only in the morning and late afternoon, returning to her air-conditioned home during the hottest hours of the day. "We do not have enough greenery, not enough oxygen," the 54-year-old said. "I think it's going to get worse every year now because the climate is changing."
