During the presentation, Professor Koundouri introduced the programme’s flagship training initiative, “Decarbonization Expert in the Shipping Sector.” This fully funded, English-taught blended learning programme is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to support the green and digital transformation of the maritime industry.

The EXCEED programme brings together a strong European network of Centres of Vocational Excellence from Greece, Italy, Finland, Spain, and the Czech Republic. In Greece, the initiative is coordinated by ATHENA Research Center in collaboration with HELMEPA – Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association.

Participants will receive specialised training in areas including:

Climate change and sustainability
Maritime decarbonization
Alternative fuels and decarbonization technologies
Advanced manufacturing in shipbuilding
Integrated management skills

Selected students will also have the opportunity to participate in international mobility programmes and gain hands-on industry experience through practical placements offered via HELMEPA’s network of shipping sector partners.

Special thanks are extended to Assoc. Professor Dimitris Tsouknidis, Director of the MSc in ISFM, for hosting the presentation at AUEB.

Το άρθρο EXCEED Erasmus+ Programme Presented to MSc ISFM Students at AUEB εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Ae4ria.

In a new article published in SDG Action, co-authored by Phoebe Koundouri, Angelos Alamanos, Anni Triantafyllidou and Ioannis Arampatzidis, the authors examine how cities can ensure safe, affordable and reliable water services in an era of increasing uncertainty.

The article builds on the European Research Council (ERC) funded Water-Futures project, which develops integrated approaches for “learning” urban drinking-water systems through cross-sectoral modelling, digital twins, real-time monitoring, socio-economic analysis and Living Labs.

The authors highlight the growing pressures facing urban water systems, including climate volatility, ageing infrastructure, pollution risks, seasonal demand peaks and affordability challenges. Addressing these interconnected risks requires more than technical solutions alone. It also demands socio-economic, political and behavioural approaches that can support long-term resilience and equitable access.

The Water-Futures project promotes evidence-based decision-making by connecting water availability, infrastructure, demand, energy, finance, affordability and social equity within integrated analytical frameworks. Through transparent testing and stakeholder engagement, the project aims to help cities evaluate and scale effective solutions for sustainable water management.

Read the full article on SDG Action

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She highlighted that Europe’s dependence on imported oil and gas makes it highly vulnerable to global price fluctuations, which effectively act as an external cost on the economy—driving up inflation, increasing production and transport costs, and reducing household purchasing power.

For Greece, these pressures are even more immediate due to its reliance on shipping, tourism, transport, and island connectivity, alongside its status as an energy-importing economy.

Her key message was the need for a realistic “Plan B” for Europe and Greece: accelerating renewables, expanding energy storage, strengthening grids and interconnections, improving energy efficiency, and protecting vulnerable households while building a stronger green industrial base.

Watch the full interview in Greek

Το άρθρο Prof. Koundouri Interview at Naftemporiki TV εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Ae4ria.

As one of the world’s leading sustainability-focused research networks, AE4RIA remains dedicated to providing science-based solutions that drive the global transition toward sustainable interactions between nature, society, and the economy.

This Report provides a comprehensive overview of our 2025 milestones, including research achievements, interdisciplinary projects, international collaborations, flagship publications, policy advisory engagements, and key institutional developments. It also highlights our active participation in major global forums, our leadership roles in international scientific advisory processes, and our continued commitment to translating rigorous research into practical, scalable, and finance-aligned solutions.

AE4RIA Research Report 2025
AE4RIA Outreach Report 2025

Το άρθρο Annual Activity Report 2025 | AE4RIA εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Ae4ria.

Based on the book The Ages of Globalization by Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, the course features video lectures, interactive maps, live dialogues with global leaders, and applied learning activities. AoG aims to deepen understanding of global interconnectedness and equip learners with the knowledge and skills needed to address critical issues such as poverty, climate change, and peace in a sustainable future.

Since its launch, the course has attracted more than 13,000 learners from over 165 countries. AE4RIA team, through SDSN Greece has been actively involved in the development of the course, building on long-standing collaboration with Professor Sachs and engagement through initiatives such as the Aristotle–Confucius Symposium on Ethics for the 21st Century. Through the participation of ATHENA RC and AUEB in the EU-funded ARSINOE project, a strong partnership was formed with the AoG team to co-develop and deliver 28 course lessons.

Find out more at https://www.agesofglobalization.com/

Το άρθρο Ages of Globalization (AoG) εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Ae4ria.

Description:

This course explores the challenges and opportunities of agriculture and food systems in the Mediterranean region, one of the world’s most biodiverse and culturally rich areas. Focusing on sustainability from landscape to table, the course examines environmental, social, economic, and nutritional dimensions of Mediterranean food systems. Participants will:

• Understand the main sustainability challenges facing Mediterranean agriculture, including resource depletion, water scarcity, food waste, and declining food quality
• Explore the history, culture, and key characteristics of Mediterranean agriculture and the Mediterranean diet
• Analyse agricultural data, rural development models, and value creation in food systems
• Become familiar with EU policy frameworks and international agreements related to food and agriculture
• Identify innovation- and sustainability-driven opportunities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access:
SDG Academy (the education and training portfolio of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network)

Το άρθρο SDGAcademyX: Sustainable Food Systems: A Mediterranean Perspective εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Ae4ria.

As we conclude another year of global impact, we are reminded of the common purpose that underpins all our efforts: advancing a truly science-based interface for sustainability—rooted in systems thinking and reinforced through continuous dialogue between science, policy, and society.

We warmly thank our partners, colleagues, and the broader community for their ongoing engagement and support throughout the year, and we look forward to sharing new developments and initiatives in the year ahead.

Read the full report 

Το άρθρο Activity Report: November–December 2025 | AE4RIA εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Ae4ria.

While security has become a central priority, she emphasises that Europe’s long-term resilience depends on sustained investment in productivity, climate resilience, the green and digital transitions, and strategic international partnerships—particularly within an increasingly complex and multipolar global landscape.

Watch the full interview (in Greek):

Το άρθρο Interview with Prof. Phoebe Koundouri on Europe’s Defence Spending Shift and Long-Term Resilience εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Ae4ria.

AE4RIA & UGIH COP30 Dialogues

Strategic Global Mobilisation of Investment for Development & Climate
Speakers: Ketan Patel (Chairman, ForceGood – Moderator); Jon Symonds (GSK; Former Chairman, HSBC Bank); Prof. Phoebe Koundouri (AUEB & University of Cambridge; Chair, AE4RIA; Chair, UN GSDR); Osvald Bjelland (Origination AS & The Performance Theatre); Jon Miller (CEO, Integrated Media Co.; Former Chairman & CEO, AOL)
Video 

Using Science to Inform Policy: Climate-Resilient Development of the Senegal River Basin
Speakers: Mohamed Abdel Vetal (High Commissioner, OMVS); Niokhor Ndour (Secretary General, OMVS); Prof. Phoebe Koundouri (AUEB & University of Cambridge; Chair, AE4RIA; Chair, UN GSDR); Ketan Patel (Chair, Force for Good); Marieke HOOD (Executive Director Impact, GESDA); Warīn K. Flores (KINRAY HUB); Massamba Thioye (UNFCCC)
Video

Digital Technology as a Driver of the Climate & Sustainability Transition
Speakers: Prof. Yannis Ioannidis (President, ACM; University of Athens – Moderator); Prof. Phoebe Koundouri (AUEB & University of Cambridge; Chair, AE4RIA; Chair, UN GSDR); Prof. Andrew A Chien (Univ. of Chicago); Prof. Virginia Dignum (Umeå University); Prof. Jayant Haritsa (Indian Institute of Science)
Video 

Knowledge Economy Transition 2045 (KE2045)
Led by Prof. Malik Dahlan, this session builds directly on his keynote announcement of the KE2045 Initiative at the Pre-COP Conference in Rio.
Speakers: Prof. Malik Dahlan (Honorary Professor, University of St Andrews; Lead, KE2045 Initiative); Prof. Phoebe Koundouri (AUEB & University of Cambridge; Chair, AE4RIA; Chair, UN GSDR); Massamba Thioye (UNFCCC); Dr. Simona Anamaria Marinescu (Senior Advisor, UN; Economy Counsel, International Data Center Authority); Mehdi Paryavi (Chairman, International Data Center Authority); Prof. Jim Falk (University of Melbourne; University of Wollongong)
Session video

READ HERE 

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The IAP, a global network of more than 140 national, regional, and global science academies, provides independent, evidence-based advice to policymakers and international institutions, playing a critical role at the science–policy–society interface. Prof. Koundouri serves as a member of IAP’s Programme and Development Committee for Communication, Education, and Outreach, representing the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS), where she is a Fellow and Trustee.

During the plenary session, Science Academies and Science Diplomacy in a Tumultuous World, Prof. Koundouri contributed to discussions on the growing need for scientific cooperation amid geopolitical uncertainty. The session was chaired by Peggy Hamburg, IAP Co-President, moderated by Ian Wiggins of The Royal Society, and opened with a keynote by Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Founding Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and former World Bank Vice President.

Prof. Koundouri’s intervention presented a UN system perspective grounded in the UN Global Sustainable Development Report 2027, for which she serves as Chief Scientist, as well as the work of the SDSN Global Climate Hub, which she chairs. She highlighted that today’s interconnected crises—climate change, biodiversity loss, food–energy–water insecurity, inequality, and geopolitical instability—cannot be addressed through siloed policies. She underscored the necessity of integrated, data-driven systems transformation pathways that combine advanced modelling with participatory co-design, enabling policymakers to assess trade-offs, maximize SDG co-benefits, and translate commitments into implementable and financeable actions.

Prof. Koundouri also emphasized the urgency of strengthening global commons governance, science diplomacy, and multilateral coordination, alongside reforming the global financial architecture, to ensure that science effectively supports equitable and sustainable development pathways toward 2030 and beyond.

The session featured distinguished participants including Mark Walport (Foreign Secretary and Vice-President, The Royal Society), Dr. Sandeep Sandhu, FRSB (UK Business Connect; UK Young Academy), Mohamed Hassan (Sudanese National Academy of Sciences), Marcelo Knobel (The World Academy of Sciences), Robbert Dijkgraaf (President-elect, International Science Council), and Ourania Kosti.

Το άρθρο Prof. Phoebe Koundouri at the IAP 2025 Triennial Conference: Advancing Science Diplomacy and Integrated Policy for Global Challenges εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Ae4ria.