Thessaloniki presents innovative actions on the path towards resilience and climate neutrality.

The company “Lever – Development Consultants S.A.”, a member of the “Samaras & Associates” group, within the framework of the support services it provides to the Municipality of Thessaloniki for the LIFE SIRIUS project, organized the final event of the project, contributing to the promotion of air quality, urban resilience and the transition to a climate-neutral city.

With the participation of representatives of the Local Government, the scientific community and European bodies, the final conference of the LIFE SIRIUS project entitled “Innovative Actions on the Path towards Resilience and Climate Neutrality of Thessaloniki” took place today, Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at the Thessaloniki City Hall (“Manolis Anagnostakis” Hall). The event is part of the participation of the Municipality of Thessaloniki in the European Mission “Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities”, with the aim of Thessaloniki achieving climate neutrality by 2030, and is implemented with funding from LIFE SIRIUS and synergies with related European projects.

The event was welcomed by the Deputy Mayor for Cleanliness, Recycling and Climate Protection of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Mr. Georgios Dimarelos, underlining the Municipality’s commitment to policies that improve the quality of life in the city and accelerate its transition to a resilient, climate-neutral future.

The event brought together around 70 participants, both in person and online, representing a wide range of local and regional authorities, research and academic institutions, European and national public bodies, as well as organisations active in environmental management and urban development. Indicative examples include services of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, regional civil protection services, universities and research institutes, labour inspection authorities, development agencies and environmental consultancy firms, as well as other stakeholders.

The first section presented the city’s key initiatives towards climate neutrality, such as Local Green Deals and participatory mobilisation actions with citizens, businesses and organisations. At the same time, sustainable mobility solutions and the role of city-science collaboration in the transition from planning to implementation were highlighted.

The second section focused on the results of LIFE SIRIUS, which supports cities in addressing air quality, climate adaptation and public health issues in an integrated manner, through scientific decision-making tools and nature-based solutions. The workshop also highlighted the importance of synergies with other European projects, strengthening Thessaloniki’s networking with cities that are following similar paths towards resilience and zero emissions.

What LIFE SIRIUS leaves for Thessaloniki:

The project strengthens the city’s ability to design policies based on reliable data and to address combined pressures from air pollution and climate change. Among other things, it highlighted practices and tools that:

• support the Municipality in making evidence-based decisions on air and climate,
• promote solutions that improve the urban environment and public health,
• function as a basis for new projects and partnerships within the framework of the “Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities” mission.

The Deputy Mayor for Cleanliness, Recycling and Climate Protection of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Mr. George Dimarelos, stressed the importance of the Municipality’s participation in initiatives such as the LIFE SIRIUS project, stating: “The Municipality’s participation in projects such as LIFE SIRIUS is an important step to ensure that the Municipality of Thessaloniki will contribute to the climate solution and the resilience of the city.” Correspondingly, Professor Dimitris Melas, Project Manager of the LIFE SIRIUS project, highlighted the significant impact of the project on environmental management in Thessaloniki, stating: “The LIFE SIRIUS project has provided Thessaloniki with the tools to better understand and mitigate the impacts of air pollution and heat stress on public health, paving the way for more sustainable urban development and improved governance in environmental risk management.” Together, their statements highlight the crucial role of LIFE SIRIUS in advancing Thessaloniki’s efforts towards sustainability and climate resilience.

The LIFE SIRIUS project is co-funded by the European Union through the LIFE programme. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or CINEA. The EU and the funding body are not responsible for any use that may be made of the content.