As climate change intensifies, cities like ICLEI Member Athens (Greece) are confronted with extreme heat that affects health, comfort and everyday life. This summer, targeted interventions across the Greek capital showed that reducing perceived temperatures can be achieved when science, municipal action and citizen engagement work together.

Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens, emphasised: “The results show that resilience is not abstract - it is felt by people in their daily lives. By planting trees, redesigning squares, and using innovative tools, we are proving that Athens can adapt to climate change while improving the quality of life for its citizens.”

Over the past 18 months, the city planted nearly 7,500 trees and reshaped public spaces to create cooler microclimates. Thermal camera data this summer showed how well these efforts are working. In Argentinis Dimokratias Square, for example, pavement shaded by trees measured 30°C, compared to 60°C measured on exposed pavement. At the Serafio Cultural Center, a new cooling garden lowered perceived temperatures by 4°C during July’s heatwave, allowing visitors to feel an immediate sense of relief.

“These interventions prove that strategic urban design can create real, tangible relief during heatwaves”, said Vangelis Marinakis, Assistant Professor at NTUA. “Lowering perceived temperature is not a myth - it is possible, provided there is a clear plan and consistent implementation.”

Cooling efforts are further supported by the Athens Heat Risk Index, which identifies the city’s areas with the highest thermal stress. The Index informs both municipal planning and citizen awareness and has been developed as part of the Athens Energy Portal, funded by the ICLEI Action Fund Greece, and the Ascend project.

Find out more about urban cooling and digital solutions in urban transitions by exploring our topical pages on Biodiversity & Nature-based Solutions and Green Digital Transformation.