Green spaces for a better environment
Athens is home to a number of parks and gardens that enhance the quality of life of its residents and create a more virtuous environment for all, human and non-human alike. Green spaces help to combat heat islands and air pollution, as well as the effects of flooding, by facilitating the absorption of rainwater. Some of these areas, such as Lycabetta and Strefi parks, are planned to be connected to form biodiversity-friendly continuums. Mount Lycabetta is also the subject of a redevelopment study, aimed at reconciling the enhancement of the site's natural and cultural heritage with public access. The "pocketparks" initiative, developed as part of the " adopt your city " project, also contributes to a better quality of life, by transforming neglected public spaces into gardens. The National Garden of Athens (Amalia Garden) is a fine example of a 19th-century landscape park, redesigned as an English garden and planted with Mediterranean species. Another haven of peace is the Diomidous Botanical Garden. The Mount Parnitha National Park, 40 km north of the capital, is criss-crossed by hiking and cycling trails. It is home to a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna (including the emblematic red deer).
Long live the circular economy!
While waste management is improving in the capital, with, for example, the deployment in 2019 of a device to send SMS messages to warn of collection times, the least polluting waste remains the one that is not produced. With the help of the crisis, the Athenians have developed numerous circular economy projects in their territory. One example is upcycling projects such as Pitsaki, which reuses used plastic to make bags or eyeglass frames. On the wood side, the company Rokani recovers pallets from the street to create furniture, and PHEE collects posidonia meadow deposits that pile up on the beaches to design phone cases.
To discover other initiatives: www.thisisathens.org/shopping/green-designers-greece
Facing global warming
The ongoing climate change has resulted in the multiplication and intensity of extreme phenomena. This is evidenced by the great heat wave and the devastating fires of the summer of 2021, which crossed the country, right up to the gates of the capital. Greece, a Mediterranean country, is particularly exposed to climate change. The IPCC report of August 2021, the Athens Declaration on Climate Change and the Environment in the Mediterranean of September 17, 2021, and the COP 26 in Glasgow two months later, called for international and concerted action to contain global warming below +1.5 ° C compared to the pre-industrial era. But commitments and actions remain insufficient to date.
Travelling differently
Athens is accessible by train and has a port and an extensive public transport network. Every year, many cyclists travel to the Greek capital, which is located on the EuroVelo8, on the strength of their calves. Athens has developed cycling facilities and has also made several areas of its city center pedestrian-friendly. The municipal market (Kypseli) and the neighborhood markets(laikes agores) provide local products, especially fruits and vegetables. The traveler to Athens can also find a wide range of restaurants and eco-friendly accommodations.
