The 2nd Kifissia Forum on Climate Resilience took place at the amphitheater of the Goulandris Natural History Museum, bringing together leaders from government, academia, municipalities, and the private sector to discuss the future of sustainable development and climate resilience in Greek cities and businesses.

Organized by the Municipality of Kifissia in collaboration with the Center for Sustainability & Excellence (CSE), the Forum served as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and sharing best practices on the green transition, urban adaptation, and corporate sustainability.

Key Highlights

A Strong Commitment from the Municipality of Kifissia

Opening the event, Vasilis Xypolytas, Mayor of Kifissia and President of SPAP, presented the municipality’s major sustainability initiatives, totaling over €60 million in investments. These include:

• The underground installation of 107 km of power and telecommunications cables

• A new Green Regulation, ensuring six new trees are planted for every one removed

• The creation of a digital forest and green registry using GPS mapping for all trees in Kifissia

These projects demonstrate the city’s vision for protecting its natural capital and improving residents’ quality of life through innovation and long-term environmental stewardship.

CSE: 20 Years of Impact in Sustainability

Representing the Center for Sustainability & Excellence (CSE), Nikos Avlonas, President of CSE and Vice President of the Corporate Responsibility Institute, emphasized the urgency of long-term climate action:

“The climate crisis and increasingly extreme weather events constitute an asymmetric threat that requires a strategy with at least a ten-year horizon. Sustainable development, in which CSE has been a global pioneer for the past 20 years, is now more urgent than ever. Best practices must be adopted across all levels of Local Government.”

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, CSE continues to support municipalities and corporations worldwide through sustainability consulting, ESG strategy, and professional certifications. With projects across 30+ countries and partnerships with Fortune 500 companies and global institutions, CSE remains at the forefront of advancing sustainability excellence.

Distinguished Participation from Institutions and Business

The Forum featured key contributions from:

• Marise Coutsouradis, European Commission

• Dimitris Kairidis, MP for Athens B1 North Sector, representing the President of the Hellenic Parliament

• Dr. Evangelos Gerasopoulos, National Observatory of Athens

Mayors from several municipalities, including G. Moralis, G. Pisimisis, I. Apostolopoulos, G. Markopoulos, and G. Konstantatos, discussed joint climate adaptation strategies, highlighting green infrastructure, circular economy, and urban environmental protection.

The business community was also represented by executives from Motor Oil, ION, Uni-pharma, and Sarantis Group, showcasing how companies are aligning ESG initiatives with climate and transparency goals.

Recognizing Sustainability Leadership

During the Forum, Periklis Thanopoulos was honored by the Mayor of Kifissia for his company’s leadership in sustainability and transparency, reinforcing the importance of responsible business practices for climate resilience and long-term stakeholder value.

Looking Ahead

The Forum concluded with a shared vision: collaboration across all sectors to create greener, more resilient cities for future generations.