Second partner meeting JUSTGREEN in Athens
On October 18 and 19, 2024, representatives from the seven European cities participating in JUSTGREEN gathered in Athens for a partner meeting to discuss and share good practices and learn from one another’s successes and challenges.
Scorecard Gallery Walk
The session began with a gallery walk showcasing each city's JUSTGREEN scorecards, reflecting insights from their stakeholder meetings. Participants shared that simplifying language and ensuring diverse representation were necessary to make these meetings more inclusive. The insights from the gallery walk inspired cities to consider adopting good practices from others to foster more inclusive and collaborative community engagements in their own initiatives.
Towards policy improvements, using good practices
Erasmus University facilitated a session on policy and spatial analysis, identifying shared challenges like green space access and heat stress. The spatial analysis underscored the influence of similar climate zones on greening practices while highlighting the need for tailored approaches due to unique landscapes. Next steps will include refining these analyses through consultations with each city, with a focus on integrating spatial, governance, and socio-economic factors for more targeted, transferable policies.
Round Table Discussions
Participants broke into round tables focused on three justice pillars—Recognition, Procedure, and Distribution—exploring city-specific challenges in areas such as minority inclusion, decision-making, and equitable green space access. The discussions encouraged cities to share good practices that could help address each other's challenges, fostering a collaborative exchange of solutions.
Good Practice Visits
The partner meeting concluded with a visit to Pedion Areos Park to review two good practices, both key urban greening initiatives. The Climate Change Observatory of Attica Region uses data to support climate policy and engage citizens, while URBAN HEAT WATCH employs participatory research to map urban heat inequality. Both good practices exemplify Athens' commitment to tackling climate challenges through integrated green practices.
The JUSTGREEN Athens meeting emphasized the value of shared learning, with cities gaining practical insights to enhance their own inclusive just urban greening and resilience efforts.
