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Ensuring inclusive climate resilience in Athens, Greece

Making disaster preparedness accessible to all

  • 20

    firefighters training seminar

  • Two

    videos disseminated

  • One

    evacuation exercise completed

  • 2023-2024

    Implementation timeline

Replicability

How to keep accessibility and inclusion at the heart of disaster preparedness 

Best suited for

Such models are suited for cities and regions facing high climate-related hazards, such as wildfires, floods and heatwaves, where marginalised groups are disproportionately vulnerable due to aspects such as inaccessible infrastructure or exclusionary emergency protocols. They are particularly relevant for local authorities seeking to embed inclusion and equal access into climate adaptation and civil protection planning. 

Stakeholders' role

The success of this approach depends on its multistakeholder actor model. Persons with disabilities and their representative organisations lead co-design, ensuring solutions reflect real-life needs. Other stakeholders such as representatives from civil protection and emergency care organisations, academics, scientists and disaster risk experts were included in the dialogue. Guidance was also received from European-level actors, such as the ECFF. This collaborative governance approach helps ensure that inclusion is mainstreamed across all levels of preparedness and response. 

Built-in scalable tools

This model utilised a participatory co-design approach that allows these actions to be scaled up in other regions while remaining contextually grounded. Additionally, digital dissemination tools such as educational videos allow for easily accessible knowledge, which can aid upscaling. By integrating inclusion principles into training materials and preparedness methodologies, the approach can be more easily adapted and replicated across different European contexts. 

Funding pathways

The  inclusive climate resilience initiative example from Athens demonstrate a joint effort, funded through EUR-OPA, the Council of Europe and the Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, as well as through the voluntary participation of the disability movement's representatives. Stable funding from states, regions, and municipalities to all stakeholders involved, particularly to the representative organisations of persons with disabilities, is key.