Athens Hits Refresh: Beating the Heat with Urban Cooling Solutions

Located in southern Greece, Athens is one of Europe’s hottest capitals. Frequent and intense heatwaves threaten public health and urban life. To protect residents, the city is deploying innovative cooling measures, combining nature-based solutions, design, and governance to reduce heat stress. 

Reimagining Public Spaces 

Over the past 18 months, Athens has planted nearly 7,500 new trees, almost doubling its planting rate compared to the previous four years. Squares, parking lots, and cultural spaces have been redesigned to provide shade, greenery, and thermal comfort. 

^{Athens Heat Risk Index and new tree planting. Municipality of Athens, 2025.} 

Cooling in Practice 

Measurements with thermal cameras during the summer of 2025 demonstrated the effectiveness of these interventions. In Argentinis Dimokratias Square, surface temperatures dropped from 60°C on exposed pavements to 30°C under tree shade. In Agia Irini Square, cool materials and shading reduced surface heat by 4–6°C. 

^{Argentinis Dimokratias Square. Municipality of Athens, 2025.} 

Microforests and Cooling Gardens 

A former parking lot in Ano Kypseli was converted into an urban microforest, cutting surface temperatures from 60°C to 37–40°C. At the Serafio Cultural Center, a cooling garden with pergolas, climbing plants, natural materials, and misting systems reduced perceived temperatures by 4°C during the July 2025 heatwave. 

Smart Tools and Partnerships 

The Athens Heat Risk digital map identifies hotspots of thermal stress, guiding both municipal interventions and citizen awareness. These efforts are embedded in broader projects such as ASCEND (NetZeroCities) and the Athens Energy Portal (ICLEI Europe), demonstrating strong collaboration between research institutions, local government, and civil society. 

^{Athens Heat Risk Index; Extreme heat temperature during summer months. Municipality of Athens, 2025.}

^{Distance of bulding blocks from Green Spaces. Municipality of Athens, 2025.} 

Main challenges in addressing heatwaves

• Adapting dense, historic urban areas with limited space for greenery
• Securing sufficient long-term funding for maintenance of cooling infrastructures
• Raising public awareness and ensuring citizen engagement in adaptation projects 

Lessons learnt and next steps 

• Small and medium-scale interventions can deliver tangible cooling effects quickly.
• Combining nature-based solutions with smart design maximizes impact.
• The city aims to expand the network of cool spots and strengthen citizen participation in planning. 

Replicability 

Athens demonstrates that effective cooling does not always require large-scale interventions. Compact solutions such as microforests, shaded squares, and cooling gardens can be replicated even in dense urban areas. When combined with digital heat risk mapping, these measures provide a scalable approach to guide planning and prioritisation  

Athens is part of the Cities Refresh campaign, creating lively and safe places for all.

Athens' Refresh

Solutions to address heatwaves: More than ten interventions (microforests, cooling gardens, shading systems) 

Maximum temperature reached during extreme heat events: 44°C (July 2025 heatwave)

• Nature
• Urban Design and Technology
• Governance
  • Tree planting, urban microforest creation, cool materials for pavements, shading structures, misting systems, digital heat risk mapping

Expected results with the solutions implemented:  

• Reduction of perceived and surface temperatures by up to 20–30°C in shaded/treated areas 

Covenant Figures 

Signatory to the Covenant of Mayors since: 2014

Emission reduction ambitions:  

• Overall CO2 emission reduction target: 61% by 2030
  • % GHG emissions reductions by 2030: -40%
  • % GHG emissions reductions by 2050: Net Zero

City Awards

• EU Mission City (100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities) in 2022