Role: Chairholder

UNESCO Chair on Climate Diplomacy promotes interdisciplinary research, training, education as well as policy-capacity building in the field of climate change policies and diplomacy at the national, regional and international level. The initiatives and activities of the UNESCO Chair on Climate Diplomacy stem from the following three-fold logic: Education and dissemination of knowledge; Research; Bridging the gap between academia and policy-makers. To that end, the activities of the Chair focus on: Gathering and processing the existing knowledge on climate change policies and transferring the knowledge to interested state and non-state actors; Highlighting the field of climate diplomacy as a key lever of introducing and implementing climate change policies. Emphasis will be given in South-Eastern Europe; Promoting the education of climate change policies and diplomacy, sustainable development and Sustainable Development Goals, protection of the marine environment, and other relevant fields. The ultimate goal of the UNESCO Chair on Climate Diplomacy is to contribute to the tackling of the major challenge of proper implementation of effective and economically efficient climate policy at national, regional and international level.

site: unescochairclimate.uoa.gr

Role: Module Leader/Coordinator

forthcoming

Role: Scientific Coordinator on behalf of ELIAMEP

The project “Climate Resilient Regions through Systemic Solutions and Innovations” is financed by the European Commission (Horizon 2020) and is coordinated by the University of Thessaly. It brings together 41 partners from 15 countries and intends to be a game-changer for shaping pathways to resilience by delivering regional innovation packages that build an ecosystem to develop and implement innovative climate change adaptation measures and solutions across Europe. Acknowledging that climate change is complex and strongly connected to other global challenges, such as food insecurity, water scarcity, biodiversity depletion and environmental degradation, it is insufficient to use traditional approaches to innovation that focus on one aspect of the problem.

Systems Innovation Approach (SIA) addresses the developing complexity, interdependencies and interconnectedness of contemporary societies and economies, covering the functions of the cross-sectoral system as a whole and the respective variety of stakeholders. The Climate Innovation Window (CIW) refers to the European Union’s innovations marketplace for climate adaptation technologies. Towards this direction, the ARSINOE project, starting from 1 October 2021 and for the next four years will develop a methodological framework for the combination of SIA with the CIW to create an ecosystem under a three-tier approach: (a) integration of multi-faceted technological, digital, business, governance and environmental aspects with social innovation for the development of adaptation pathways to climate change, so as to meet EU Green Deal targets for specific regions; (b) linkage with CIW to form innovation packages by matching innovators with end-users/regions; (c) fostering the ecosystem sustainability and growth with cross-fertilization and replication across scales, at European level and beyond, using appropriate business models and exploitation-outreach actions.

ELIAMEP, as a partner of the ARSINOE consortium, will organize annually two Youth Assembly simulations, engaging secondary and tertiary education students, as well as one Training for Trainers (T4T) seminar with the participation of secondary education teachers and municipal employees of the Athens Metropolitan area. The specially designed local and/or regional simulations will foster dialogue and social consensus, offering participants the chance to gain first-hand experience on participatory decision-making processes. The preparatory activities will also involve local authorities and will be supported by the Hellenic Forum for Sustainable Development (ELFOVA) established by ELIAMEP and the Brussels-based Foundation for Global Governance and Sustainability (FOGGS). During the simulations and seminars, secondary and tertiary education students and teachers and municipal employees will shape their communities’ Green Deals, after having participated in other interactive activities, such as measuring their schools’ carbon footprints, identifying local environmental problems and vulnerabilities. The results will be presented by the students to their local communities as a contribution, encouragement and commitment to action. These initiatives aim to become an alternative teaching programme or a complementary element to school curricula, introducing local/regional Green Deals among and by young people, triggering a bottom-up and community-based approach.

site: https://arsinoe-project.eu/

Role: Module Leader/Coordinator

The Jean Monnet Module on European Climate Diplomacy aims to complement and to broaden the scope of the existing teaching courses on EU policies and policy-making of the undergraduate programme of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. This Jean Monnet Module promotes research and first teaching experience for young researchers and scholars and practitioners in European Union issues; fosters the publication and dissemination of the results of academic research; creates interest in the EU and constitutes the basis for future poles of European knowledge, particularly in Partner Countries; fosters the introduction of a European Union angle into mainly non EU related studies; delivers tailor-made courses on specific EU issues relevant for graduates in their professional life.

This Jean Monnet Module will be in a continuous interplay with the UNESCO Chair on Climate Diplomacy, hosted also by the Institute of European Integration and Policy. These two programmes, by working together, will contribute to the visibility of their projects and strengthen cooperation at an international and European level. The structure of the Jean Monnet Module integrates the following activities: A new undergraduate course on climate diplomacy; A Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC simulation; A tailor-made seminar on climate change addressed to high-school and elementary-school teachers.

The implementation period of this Module spans over three years, from 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2022.

site: https://eeep-en.pspa.uoa.gr/projects/completed_projects/jean_monnet_module_european_climate_diplomacy/

Role: Module Leader/Coordinator

The three-year module, co-financed by the EU Erasmus + programme of the European Commission, comprised the following teaching activities: Athens PhD seminars, Athens EU model and Athens Summer School. The number of applications submitted by undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students in all teaching activities indicates that the launch of the Jean Monnet Module “Moving the EU forward” was more than welcome. More than 180 students applied each year for the above educational activities. The strict criteria applied for the selection of more motivated and qualified participants ensured the high quality of the teaching outcome. In total, 324 graduate, post-graduate and PhD students and young researchers from EU and non-EU countries had the opportunity to attend more than 65 lectures (210 teaching hours) i.e. 21-22 lectures each year with a duration of 68-71 teaching hours. The lectures were given by distinguished academics, researchers and practitioners with a thorough academic background and political perception of EU politics and policies. Many of them have served as experts or consultants at the EU and/or Greek institutions. 

site: https://eeep-en.pspa.uoa.gr/projects/completed_projects/jean_monnet_module_moving_the_eu_forward/