Participatory planning for climate resilience in Greece’s agricultural heartland

Key Learnings

• Extreme Weather Events as a Catalyst for Change: Extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, became a turning point, making previously resistant stakeholders call for climate support. When livelihoods are directly impacted, the urgency for adaptation becomes clear.
• The Power of Science-Based Dialogues: Participatory processes, clearly explaining climate models and future scenarios, bridge gaps between diverse stakeholders by shifting the focus from short-term compromises to long-term sustainability. European scientific institutions play a key role by providing trusted expertise and a neutral perspective, which can help break deadlocks and move discussions forward.
• Strategic Timing for Policy Influence: EU-funded projects should align with key policy windows, such as the revision of River Basin Management Plans or other regulatory updates, to maximise impact and ensure that scientific recommendations translate into concrete policy change.
• A holistic Adaptation Approach enhances Climate Resilience: Considering water, energy, food and ecosystems allows forward-thinking climate change adaptation, despite potentially conflicting interests.

Summary

A three-year participatory process in the Pinios River Basin brought together authorities, farmers, scientists, and NGOs across the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus sectors to design a climate resilience strategy, tackling extreme flooding and water scarcity. The stakeholders used System Dynamics Modelling and Climate Risk Assessments to identify vulnerabilities and develop science-based adaptation measures. Through a structured visioning process, they prioritised 20 key interventions and successfully included them in the revised River Basin Management Plan for the Pinios River. This achievement demonstrates the power of collaboration in overcoming long-standing challenges and ensuring climate resilience for the region’s water, agriculture, and ecosystems.

Contact

Andreas Panagopoulos, ELGO-DIMITRA, SWRI, a [dot] panagopoulosswri [dot] gr (a[dot]panagopoulos[at]swri[dot]gr)

Alexandros Kandarakis, GWP-Med Head of Communications Alexandros [dot] kandarakisgwpmed [dot] org (Alexandros[dot]kandarakis[at]gwpmed[dot]org)