International Conference on Sustainable Cities
Interdisciplinary Approaches
Date: June 27, 2025
Time: 09:00 AM – 15:00 EEST
Location: Athens University of Economics and Business “Eleftherios Venizelos” Ceremony Hall | Athens, Greece
Participation in the conference is free of charge but subject to mandatory registration due to limited seating capacity.
We encourage all interested participants to register early to ensure availability.
For more information please contact us at communicationsdep@aueb.gr
The International Conference on Sustainable Cities: Interdisciplinary Approaches will take place in Athens, Greece, on June 27, 2025, at the Athens University of Economics and Business, Greece. This global gathering aims to address the pressing challenges and opportunities urban areas face in the context of sustainability.
Concept note:
As urbanization accelerates worldwide, cities have become central to tackling climate change, promoting social equity, and ensuring economic resilience. The conference will serve as a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration, focusing on the transition toward sustainable urban development.
The core objectives of the conference include a critical examination of the concept of sustainable cities and the growing importance of urban sustainability. Special attention will be given to identifying and addressing the financing gaps that hinder cities from achieving their sustainability goals. Participants will explore innovative financial mechanisms and investment strategies to support this transition. The event will also highlight the best practices and successful case studies from around the world, aiming to inspire scalable and context-specific solutions.
The conference will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including urban planners and city officials, representatives from financial institutions and investment bodies, environmental and sustainability experts, policymakers, academics, researchers, and delegates from international and European institutions. By fostering dialogue among these key actors, the event will help build a shared understanding of challenges and co-design actionable pathways toward sustainable urban futures.
Thematic Areas:
The agenda will feature interdisciplinary sessions around the following key themes:
- Climate Modelling & Atmospheric Physics
- Energy Systems & Energy Security
- Land Use & Food Security
- Marine Systems
- Public Health Systems
- Socio-Economic and Financial Systems
- Participatory Approaches for Pathways to Sustainable Cities
- Education, Upskilling, and Reskilling
Organizing Partners:
This conference is a joint initiative of leading academic, scientific, and policy institutions, including:
- World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS)
- European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA)
- Academia Europaea – Task Force on Environment, Sustainability and Climate
- Academy of Athens – Research Centre for Atmospheric Physics and Climatology
- Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) – ReSEES Lab
- Athena Research Center – Sustainable Development Unit
- Alliance of Excellence for Research and Innovation on Αephoria (AE4RIA)
- Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
- UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub
The conference is additionally supported by SDSN Global Climate Hub, SDSN Europe, and SDSN Greece, which actively promote science-driven pathways for climate-resilient and sustainable urban development.
Further support is provided through four major European research projects addressing regional climate resilience and systemic transformation:
- Horizon 2020 | ARSINOE: Climate Resilient Regions Through Systemic Solutions and Innovations
- Horizon 2020 | IMPETUS: Dynamic Information Management Approach for the Implementation of Climate Resilient Adaptation Packages in European Regions
- Horizon EU | Pathways2Resilience: Co-developing Pathways Towards Climate Resilient Regions in Europe
- HORIZON EU | CARMINE: Climate-Resilient Development Pathways in Metropolitan Regions of Europe
Together, these partners aim to deliver a high-impact, interdisciplinary conference that advances science-based, inclusive, and finance-ready approaches to building sustainable and climate-resilient cities worldwide.
Agenda:
08:30 – 09:00 | Registration & Welcome Coffee
09:00 – 10:00 | Opening Session: Welcome Address – Host Institution Representatives
Moderator: Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, Athens University of Economics and Business & University of Cambridge; President, World Council of Environmental and Resource Economists Associations; Chair, SDSN Global Climate Hub; Director, AE4RIA
Special Announcement: Collaboration between UN SDSN Global Climate Hub and UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub. Presented by:
- Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, Chair UN SDSN Global Climate Hub
- Massamba Thioye, Project Executive, UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub
Welcome Remarks:
- Prof. Vasileios Vasdekis, Rector, Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB)
- Garry Jacobs, President and CEO, World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS)
- Klaus Mainzer, President, European Academy of Sciences and Arts
- Peter Wagner, Chair, Academia Europaea Task Force on Environment, Sustainability and Climate
- María Cortés Puch, Vice Chair, Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) – video message
10:00 – 11:30 | Panel I – Climate Science to Urban Resilience: Integrating Modelling, Energy Systems & Infrastructure for Future-Proof Cities
This session addresses the foundational systems of sustainable cities: climate modelling and atmospheric science, urban energy systems, and energy security. It explores how scientific tools and technologies are shaping policy and infrastructure for climate resilience.
Moderator: Dr. Evangelos Gerasopoulos, Vice President National Observatory of Athens , Director, Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development
Keynote Introduction (10 min): “Unlocking Cities Climate Finance for a Sustainable Urban Future”
- Mauricio Rodas, Former Mayor of Quito; Executive Secretary, SDSN Global Commission for Urban SDG Finance; Visiting Scholar, University of Pennsylvania (online)
Panel Speakers:
- Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, Athens University of Economics and Business & University of Cambridge
- Prof. Giannis Adamos, Department of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
- Dr. MJ Mijeong Park, CEO, International Center: Empowering Action; UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub; Research Professor, Kyung Hee University
- Longfei Li, Head of Communication & Cooperation, Europe Office, Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO)
- Prof. Karyn Morrissey, Professor in Environment and Marine Economics, University of Galway (online)
- Prof. Alberto Zucconi, President of the Person-Centred Approach Institute; Chair of the Board, World Academy of Art & Science
- Massamba Thioye, Project Executive, UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub
Thematic Areas: Climate Modelling & Atmospheric Physics | Energy Systems & Energy Security | Public Health Systems
11:30 – 12:00 | Coffee Break
12:00 – 13:30 | Panel II – Nature-Based Cities, Green Finance & Skills for a Just Transition
This session explores the transformation of cities through the lens of nature-based solutions, inclusive governance, and socio-economic resilience. Bridging land use planning, food security, marine and coastal adaptation, the discussion will showcase integrated and nature-based planning approaches that strengthen the connection between environmental health and human well-being in urban contexts. At the same time, it will address the human capital and institutional frameworks necessary for a just transition—highlighting participatory planning, education, and skills development as key enablers. Emphasis will be placed on innovative financial strategies and inclusive governance models.
Moderator: Dr. Ebun Akinsete, Senior Researcher, Sustainable Development Unit, ATHENA Research Center; AE4RIA; Co-chair, SDSN Greece
Keynote Introduction (10 min): “Accelerating Climate Resilient Development in Cities and Urban Areas”
- Aromar Revi, Founding Director, Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) (online)
Panel Speakers:
- Dr. Sorin Cheval, Senior Researcher, National Meteorological Administration of Romania; Coordinator, CARMINE Project
- Prof. Yannis Ioannidis, Professor of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; President, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
- Dr. Conrad Landis, Senior Researcher, Research Laboratory on Socio-Economic and Environmental Sustainability (ReSEES), AUEB; Sustainable Development Unit, ATHENA RC; AE4RIA Network
- Maria Nakova, Strategic Development Manager, Cleantech Bulgaria; Project Manager, BuildSkills Academy (online)
- Barış Salihoğlu, Director, Institute of Marine Sciences, Middle East Technical University (METU); Coordinator, BRIDGE-BS EU Project (online)
- Katalin Solymosi, Associate Professor, Eötvös Loránd University; Fellow, International Science Council; Outgoing Chair, Young Academy of Europe (online)
Thematic Areas: Land Use & Food Security | Coastal Cities & Marine Systems | Socio-Economic and Financial Systems | Participatory Approaches | Education, Upskilling & Reskilling
13:30 – 13:45 | Closing Keynote (15 min): Finance and Solutions for a Sustainable World
Ketan Patel, Chairman and Founder of Force for Good, Co-Founder of Greater Pacific Capital
13:45 – 14:15 | Final Remarks – From Dialogue to Action: Pathways to Sustainable Cities
Panel Moderators offer conclusions and next steps:
- Evangelos Gerasopoulos, National Observatory of Athens (NOA)
- Phoebe Koundouri, AUEB & University of Cambridge
- Ebun Akinsete, ATHENA RC; Co-chair, SDSN Greece
14:15 – 15:00 | Interactive Session – Digital Tools for Public Engagement and Education: ARSINOE VR Demo
This closing session will feature a live demonstration of ARSINOE’s virtual reality platform designed to enhance public engagement and education for sustainable urban transformation.
Led by Dr. Akrivi Katifori, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens & ATHENA Research Center.
