Events

Panel II - Nature-Based Cities, Green Finance & Skills for a Just Transition

Moderated by Dr. Ebun Akinsete, Athena Research Center; AE4RIA ; Co-chair SDSN Greece, this panel explored how nature-based solutions, inclusive governance, green finance, and skills development can accelerate climate-resilient urban transformation and ensure a just transition.

Keynote: Prof. Aromar Revi, Founding Director, Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS). Outlined the IPCC’s framework for Climate-Resilient Development, stressing system transitions in energy, ecosystems, urban infrastructure, and behavior. Highlighted balancing human well-being with ecosystem integrity amid rising climate risks.

Panel Speakers:

• Dr. Sorin Cheval, National Meteorological Administration of Romania; Coordinator, CARMINE Project (Horizon Europe). Presented digital twins and living labs in eight EU metropolitan regions, including Athens, to co-design climate-resilient pathways. Emphasized targeted stakeholder engagement.

• Prof. Yannis Ioannidis, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens; President, ACM. Showed the data-driven backbone of sustainability via ARSINOE_EU, CARMINE Project, Euporia Platform. Stressed AI/digital twins’ role in urban planning while warning of their energy and environmental costs.

• Dr. Conrad Landis, Resees, Research Laboratory AUEB; Athena Research Center; AE4RIA - Alliance of Excellence for Research and Innovation on Aephoria. Introduced ARSINOE_EU and Climate Impetus tools including cost-benefit models and risk registries to help cities finance climate adaptation.

• Maria Nakova (online), Cleantech Bulgaria; Project Manager, BuildSkills Academy. Presented training to upskill Europe’s construction sector with green and digital skills for sustainable urban transformation and job readiness.

• Prof. Baris Salihoglu (online), METU Institute of Marine Sciences; Coordinator, BRIDGE-BS EU Project. Showed how urban land pressures affect Black Sea ecosystems, using digital twin ocean models and nature-based solutions for coastal development.

• Dr. Katalin Solymosi (online), Eötvös Loránd University; Fellow, International Science Council. Promoted interdisciplinary education via CHARM-EU and its Master's in Global Challenges for Sustainability, stressing next-generation experts for urban innovation and planetary health.

Closing Keynote: Ketan Patel (Force for Good Initiative) urged scaling existing solutions via global investment and collaboration. His upcoming World Investment Plan, to launch at COP30, will turn SDGs and IPCC priorities into investable assets for a just, resilient future.

Watch the session here