Cities are at the forefront of the fastest-evolving environmental and climatic changes. This is due to land use changes, urban development not based on environmental principles, urban sprawl, and increased human activity that spatially and temporally intensifies heat sources, etc.

Therefore, the ability of cities to adapt to Climate Change must be the subject of study.

The relationship between cities and Climate Change is multifaceted: – Cities consume about 60 to 80% of the energy produced worldwide and are major sources of carbon dioxide emissions. – Climate Change poses risks to urban infrastructure and quality of life due to sea level rise, extreme weather events, soil droughts, and heatwaves. – Building infrastructures are vulnerable to extreme weather events that may be caused by Climate Change. – The way cities develop and operate affects energy demand and, consequently, carbon dioxide emissions. – The energy flows in the urban environment depend on land use and land cover. The rate of warming at a regional or local level can be slowed down through the choice of land uses/cover.

Specifically, the continuous expansion of cities and the rapid increase in energy needs, especially during the summer, have contributed to the creation of an extremely dangerous energy footprint, which has direct implications for the climate.

One of the biggest problems faced by modern cities is the lack of green spaces. The occupation of urban space by concrete has significant energy and environmental impacts, as buildings are largely responsible for energy consumption and the emission of pollutants and gases. In Greece, specifically, buildings are responsible for 40% of total energy consumption and 45% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the atmosphere. At the same time, the lack of green spaces affects public health and burdens the collective psychology of city residents, intensifying a sense of discomfort.

You can view the ministerial decision regarding “Terms, conditions, and procedures for the construction of planted surfaces on rooftops, terraces, and outdoor spaces of buildings here.