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 

Το άρθρο AE4RIA at COP30 εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Ae4ria.

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.

Our team was present at the Athens Science Festival 2025, at the booth of the Athena Research Center, participating in Greece’s largest celebration of science and innovation.

During the festival, Dr. Dr. Fivos Papadimitriou, Senior Researcher at AE4RIA, presented the work and mission of AE4RIA – Alliance of Excellence for Research and Innovation on Aephoria, along with key initiatives including the SDSN Global Climate Hub and the LUSI (Land Use Simulator).

LUSI – Sustainability Strategy Through a Board Game

LUSI is an interactive spatial strategy game inspired by the landscapes of Southern Europe. Designed as both a research and educational tool, LUSI highlights real-world land-use conflicts and supports sustainable land-use planning by fostering systems thinking, collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making.

AE4RIA’s participation in the Athens Science Festival demonstrates its ongoing commitment to bridging research, innovation, and society, making complex sustainability challenges accessible and actionable for a broad audience.

Το άρθρο AE4RIA at Athens Science Festival 2025: Showcasing Innovation for Sustainable Futures εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Ae4ria.

The paper presents a competencies-gap analysis framework that underpins the design of 70 specialised, modular courses developed within the EU-funded CATALYST project. The framework aligns education, research collaboration, and business needs, supporting upskilling and reskilling in areas including sustainable development, the circular economy, organisational transformation, and change management, fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

About the CATALYST Project
CATALYST (European VET Excellence Centre for Leading Sustainable Systems and Business Transformation) is an Erasmus+ Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) project that supports SMEs and learners across Europe in the green and digital transition. The project promotes innovation, applied learning, and sustainable business transformation through tailored vocational education and training programmes and strong education–industry collaboration.
Prof. Phoebe Koundouri serves as Principal Investigator of the CATALYST project at the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) / ReSEES Research Laboratory.

Authors
Lydia Papadaki; Ebun Akinsete (PhD); Panagiota Koltsida; Angelina Taneva-Veshoska; Ana Tomikj; Eleni Toli; Slavica Trajkovska; and Prof. Phoebe Koundouri

Το άρθρο New Publication: Catalysing Business Transformation through Research Collaboration and Course Development εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Ae4ria.

Drawing on the latest findings from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the discussion highlighted that 2025 is expected to rank as the second warmest year ever recorded globally. This development was presented not as an isolated occurrence, but as part of a persistent and well-documented trend of rising global temperatures.

Prof. Phoebe Koundouri underlined that this warming trend is intensifying the frequency, duration, and severity of extreme weather events, including heatwaves, floods, and wildfires. These phenomena impose substantial social and economic costs, with far-reaching consequences for public health, labour productivity, critical infrastructure, energy systems, and food security.

The interview further emphasized that while the necessary scientific knowledge, data, technologies, and solutions already exist, the central challenge lies in effective implementation. This requires sustained capacity building, robust monitoring frameworks, and strong international cooperation.

Watch the interview (in Greek)

Το άρθρο Prof. Phoebe Koundouri in an Interview on MEGA News COSMOS: 2025 Climate Trends and Their Socioeconomic Implications εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Ae4ria.