European Climate Pact National Event Greece 2026
“Living the Change, Shaping the Future”
Thursday 2 April 2026 | Goethe-Institut Athen
The European Climate Pact National Event Greece 2026 is the annual national gathering of the Greek community of the European Climate Pact. The event is organised by INZEB, in its role as National Coordinator of the European Climate Pact in Greece, in collaboration with Climate Pact Ambassadors and Partners.
Now in its third edition, the National Event brings together representatives from European and national institutions, academia, local authorities, civil society, the private sector and youth. The event functions as a platform for dialogue on the societal, policy and sectoral dimensions of the climate transition. The programme of the 2026 edition is structured around five thematic pillars.
Register today to reserve your spot.
Climate Challenges
The event opens with two keynote-style talks addressing climate science and climate diplomacy. The first talk situates climate change as a present and experienced reality, highlighting its implications for ecosystems, societies and everyday life. The second places climate action within the broader European and international policy landscape, addressing the role of climate diplomacy amid geopolitical uncertainty. Together, these interventions establish the common reference framework for the discussions that follow.
Culture as a Bridge
This session addresses climate change as a cultural and societal question. The discussion focuses on the role of culture, creativity and public narratives in shaping how societies interpret the climate transition. Cultural institutions, artistic expression and storytelling contribute to the ways climate action is understood, communicated and socially embedded. Culture is approached as a connecting element between climate policy and societal experience.
Communities and Society
This pillar focuses on the social dimensions of climate change, with particular attention to public health and social cohesion. Climate impacts, such as heatwaves, extreme weather events, and air pollution, increasingly affect communities and public health systems. The discussion addresses how climate policies intersect with social protection, community resilience and the conditions required for a fair and inclusive transition.
Sectors and Solutions
The fourth pillar examines how key sectors respond to climate challenges and contribute to sustainable transformation. Dedicated sessions address tourism, as a sector closely linked to environmental conditions and local economies, and innovation, technology and artificial intelligence, with a focus on the role of data, digital tools and technological innovation in supporting climate policy and decision-making.
Next Generation
The final session of the programme is dedicated to the Youth Climate Diplomacy Forum. The discussion highlights the institutional and policy engagement of young people in climate action at national and European levels. The session presents initiatives and experiences that demonstrate the growing role of youth participation in climate governance and public debate.
Interactive Virtual Reality Experience
Throughout the event, participants will have access to an interactive Virtual Reality (VR) experience on urban climate resilience. The VR application was developed within the European research project ARSINOE by the Athena Research Centre, in collaboration with the Athens University of Economics and Business. The experience, titled “From Dystopia to Eutopia: Transforming Urban Environments Through Collaborative Decision-Making in Arsinoe VR”, received the First Prize for Best 3D User Interface Demo at the IEEE VR 2025 conference.
Participants explore a range of urban scenarios, from climate-stressed environments to more resilient and sustainable urban futures. Through interactive storytelling and digital simulation tools, the experience presents potential interventions for urban adaptation and climate resilience. The VR installation is available throughout the day and complements the programme discussions by introducing an experiential perspective on the challenges of urban climate adaptation.
Strengthening the Climate Pact Community
The European Climate Pact National Event Greece 2026 aims to strengthen collaboration within the Greek Climate Pact community and to reinforce continuity of action beyond the event itself. The meeting supports the exchange of perspectives between institutions, researchers, practitioners and civil society, contributing to the development of partnerships and collective action in the context of the climate transition.
You can access the draft agenda in Greek here.
Missed the 2025 National Event? Watch the key highlights in the following short video.