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On 4 September, in an interview with journalist Nicolas Kaufmann from Surplus Magazin, Prof. Phoebe Koundouri shares insights on Athens’ ambitious goal to become climate-neutral by 2030.

Athens faces rising heat, pollution, and a heavy reliance on cars, which limits the efficiency of public transport. To tackle these challenges, the city needs more public transport, electric vehicles, pedestrian zones, and green spaces, including microforests, to reduce urban heat. Achieving climate neutrality requires strategic planning, targeted funding, and strong institutions.

The SDSN Global Climate Hub, supported by Ae4ria – Alliance of Excellence for Research and Innovation on Aephoria, is contributing to this effort by identifying systemic pathways for transport transformation—ensuring that change is not only technological, but also institutional and social.

Despite limited fiscal space, Athens can become a prototype of Southern European Green and Inclusive mobility by integrating sustainability principles, digital and green technologies, AI, and Machine Learning into transport developments. The proposed projects must be designed in the most integrated and human-centric way, while being de-risked and financed by both public and private capital. Athens needs to pave its sustainable pathway on science, technology, and integrated SDG-stimulus finance. According to Prof. Koundouri, this is absolutely achievable.

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