Athens climate resilience plan plants micro-forests to fight extreme heat

With temperatures rising, Athens launches tree-planting initiative to counter the urban heat island effect.

An aerial view of the city of Athens, captured on April 18, 2025. Photo by Aris Messinis/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

On a grey spring morning in Kypseli, one of the most densely populated districts of Athens, small saplings sprout from the hillside of Alepotrypa park, signaling the early steps of the Athens climate resilience plan. This newly planted “micro-forest” represents more than just a patch of greenery—it is the centerpiece of an ambitious initiative by Athens’ recently elected mayor, Haris Doukas, to address the severe heatwaves intensified by climate change.

The goal is clear: plant 5,000 trees every year as part of a broader effort to make the Greek capital more livable during blistering summers. By 2028, Athens aims to add 25,000 trees across the city. These measures are intended to reduce the so-called urban heat island effect, where densely built urban areas become significantly warmer than their surroundings due to heat-retaining concrete and asphalt.

Why Athens is overheating

Athens, like many major cities across Southern Europe, has become increasingly vulnerable to extreme heat. With summer temperatures frequently surpassing 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), the city faces not only discomfort but also severe public health risks. This vulnerability stems in part from its outdated infrastructure: many buildings and roadways are over four decades old, absorbing and trapping heat during the day and releasing it slowly at night.

According to Nikos Chrysogelos, Athens’ deputy mayor for climate and a seasoned environmental advocate, the Athens climate resilience plan is long overdue. He explained that central Athens is the second most densely populated urban area in Europe after Paris, yet offers less than one square meter of green space per resident—far short of the nine square meters per capita recommended by the World Health Organization.

“We missed critical opportunities in the past, especially around the 2004 Olympic Games,” Chrysogelos said. “From 2000 onwards, we knew the scale of the problem but did not act with the urgency it required.”

The science behind micro-forests

Planting trees may seem like a simple fix, but it is backed by a strong scientific rationale. Vegetation plays a crucial role in mitigating urban heat. Trees not only provide shade, which can reduce surface temperatures by several degrees, but they also cool the air through a process called transpiration.

However, as experts like architect and urban planner Katerina Christoforaki point out, these micro-forests will take years to mature. “These small parks are a step in the right direction, but they’re simply too little, too late,” she said. Christoforaki emphasized that deeper changes—like reducing vehicle traffic and retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency—are equally vital components of any effective Athens climate resilience plan.

For residents like Ivvona Kujda, a 54-year-old housekeeper originally from Poland who has lived in Athens for more than three decades, the impact of heatwaves is deeply personal. “It feels like we’re in a boiling kettle,” she said, referring to how the city’s three surrounding mountains trap hot air. “We don’t have enough greenery, not enough oxygen. I think it’s going to get worse every year now because the climate is changing.”

Kujda has adjusted her daily routine to cope with the heat. She only works in the early morning and late afternoon hours, retreating to her air-conditioned home during the most dangerous parts of the day. For many residents, these coping mechanisms are essential, but they’re also a reminder that individual efforts alone are not enough.

A city losing its natural buffers

Adding to the crisis is the fact that Athens has lost nearly 60 percent of its surrounding forests to wildfires in recent years. The city’s sprawling development, particularly along the coastline, has also blocked sea breezes that could have helped cool the city.

Athens’ unchecked expansion over the years has been described by many urban planners as “haphazard.” In the years following the Greek debt crisis, public agencies responsible for urban planning were defunded or sidelined. According to Christoforaki, much of the current focus has shifted toward bolstering tourism infrastructure, further sidelining long-term environmental planning.

Despite the urgency, the Athens climate resilience plan faces steep financial challenges. The city has outlined a broader aim of becoming carbon-neutral by 2030. This would involve making dozens of municipal buildings more energy-efficient, expanding green public transport options, and planting more vegetation throughout the city. But achieving these goals will require a massive investment—an estimated 6.5 billion euros in European Union and national funding, along with private contributions.

According to Mayor Doukas, planting trees alone could help reduce perceived summer temperatures by three to five degrees Celsius. The city also plans to install sensors across neighborhoods to monitor temperatures in real-time and better plan for emergency responses during heatwaves.

Beyond pocket parks: a call for bold moves

Achilleas Plitharas, a former WWF official who previously led green infrastructure efforts in Athens, said that micro-forests and small parks are helpful but insufficient. “It’s not that Athens missed the train. We never even built the rails,” he said.

He argues that to build true climate resilience, Athens must embrace more drastic urban transformations. This could include demolishing outdated city blocks and creating “extensive green corridors” that allow air to flow and cool entire neighborhoods. “But that requires political will, long-term planning, and above all, a culture of cooperation—which we currently lack,” Plitharas said.

Although the Athens climate resilience plan is still in its infancy, its success will ultimately depend on how much of the city’s long-standing issues—aging infrastructure, urban sprawl, and lack of coordination—can be addressed. Planting 25,000 trees is a promising start, but it is only one piece of a much larger puzzle.

With climate change accelerating, Athens must act decisively to protect its residents. As heatwaves become longer and more intense, the city’s survival may hinge not just on planting trees, but on fundamentally rethinking how it functions. For now, the saplings of Alepotrypa park stand as a modest sign of hope in a city racing against time.