Empowering Citizens to Co-Create Climate Resilience in Compact Cities
Published on
04/07/2025
About this challenge
Greece
Challenge description
Dafni–Ymittos is a compact, high-density municipality in the heart of the Athens metropolitan area, facing a complex and multifaceted urban challenge at the intersection of climate resilience, spatial constraints, and community engagement. With a population of approximately 33,000 residents and one of the highest population densities in Attica, the municipality has historically grown through layered urban expansion, resulting in limited public green space, heavy soil sealing, and aging infrastructure. Its small land area and intense residential character have created an urban fabric with limited flexibility for retrofitting or the introduction of large-scale nature-based interventions.
Strategically, Dafni–Ymittos does not yet have a Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP), although preparatory work is underway, including the development of a Municipal Emissions Reduction Plan (MERP) and an Energy Efficiency Plan (EEP). These emerging frameworks are expected to align the city with national and European climate policy. However, the absence of an integrated climate governance structure limits the municipality’s ability to prioritize actions, secure funding, or measure impact. Furthermore, there is no internal system to collect, analyze, and communicate environmental data in a user-friendly, policy-relevant way.
The urban challenge of Dafni–Ymittos is ultimately representative of many small Mediterranean cities: compact, exposed to climate pressures, and struggling to align citizen energy with strategic governance. Yet the city has clear potential-motivated leadership, engaged citizens, and a growing willingness to learn from others.
Strategically, Dafni–Ymittos does not yet have a Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP), although preparatory work is underway, including the development of a Municipal Emissions Reduction Plan (MERP) and an Energy Efficiency Plan (EEP). These emerging frameworks are expected to align the city with national and European climate policy. However, the absence of an integrated climate governance structure limits the municipality’s ability to prioritize actions, secure funding, or measure impact. Furthermore, there is no internal system to collect, analyze, and communicate environmental data in a user-friendly, policy-relevant way.
The urban challenge of Dafni–Ymittos is ultimately representative of many small Mediterranean cities: compact, exposed to climate pressures, and struggling to align citizen energy with strategic governance. Yet the city has clear potential-motivated leadership, engaged citizens, and a growing willingness to learn from others.
This city is looking for
Dafni–Ymittos is seeking to collaborate with peer cities that have:
Experience in greening public spaces, particularly in high-density, spatially constrained urban environments. This includes pocket parks, linear green corridors, rooftop gardens, and tree-planting strategies adapted to heat stress and limited soil.
Established cross-departmental climate governance structures, ideally with a climate officer or taskforce coordinating municipal action.
Proven community engagement models, especially those that empower youth, seniors, migrants, and local groups to co-create climate solutions.
Digital tools and monitoring methods for mapping green space, evaluating interventions, and integrating environmental data into municipal decision-making.
Hands-on knowledge of small-scale nature-based solutions that improve microclimates, reduce heat island effects, and promote biodiversity.
This expertise will support Dafni–Ymittos in translating strong local interest into effective, integrated, and participatory greening and adaptation strategies.
Experience in greening public spaces, particularly in high-density, spatially constrained urban environments. This includes pocket parks, linear green corridors, rooftop gardens, and tree-planting strategies adapted to heat stress and limited soil.
Established cross-departmental climate governance structures, ideally with a climate officer or taskforce coordinating municipal action.
Proven community engagement models, especially those that empower youth, seniors, migrants, and local groups to co-create climate solutions.
Digital tools and monitoring methods for mapping green space, evaluating interventions, and integrating environmental data into municipal decision-making.
Hands-on knowledge of small-scale nature-based solutions that improve microclimates, reduce heat island effects, and promote biodiversity.
This expertise will support Dafni–Ymittos in translating strong local interest into effective, integrated, and participatory greening and adaptation strategies.
City size
Towns (< 50,000 inhabitants)
Author
MARIA CHATZIDAKI
Greece
Deputy Mayor
Municipality of Dafni-Ymittos
