The ICLEI Action Fund will grant 1 million Euros to three projects in the Greek cities of Athens, Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni and Thessaloniki using different data sources and technology to implement inclusive climate actions.
Led by ICLEI Europe through grant funding from Google.org, the projects will address critical climate challenges such as energy poverty, wildfire detection, and air quality management in Greece. The selected projects contribute to the goals of the EU Mission for Climate Neutral and Smart Cities and the EU Mission for Adaptation to Climate Change.
This marks the third edition of the ICLEI Action Fund’s commitment to fostering data-driven environmental actions in Europe. From 2020-2023, the ICLEI Action Fund 1.0 awarded 2.5 million Euros to six non-profit and academic organisations across Berlin, Birmingham, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Nantes, and Oldham.
Since 2023, the ICLEI Action Fund 2.0 has provided 7 million Euros to seven organisations in Stockholm, Dortmund, Rome, Glasgow, Barcelona, and Rotterdam.
“The success of the ICLEI Action Fund to date has enabled us to launch this new round of projects in Greece. We received many high-quality applications, making the selection process highly competitive. The chosen projects in Athens, Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni and Thessaloniki will leverage data and technology to address energy poverty, wildfire detection, and air quality management. We are confident these innovative, data-driven actions will promote inclusiveness and climate justice, showcasing the power of local initiatives in supporting the creation of resilient and sustainable cities in Greece” said ICLEI’s Regional Director Europe, Wolfgang Teubner.
Maria Founta, Google Country Marketing Manager, Greece, added: “Cities are at the forefront of global efforts to decarbonize and are motivated to act. We are proud to support ICLEI Europe in fostering a collective effort towards combating the impacts of climate change within Greek cities. We are confident that the 1 million EUR funding provided from Google.org will support the selected projects to have measurable impact in their communities and will serve as lighthouse examples to demonstrate how cross-sector efforts and public-private partnerships can accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future.”
The projects will commence in June 2024 and will run for the next two years.
