Kalamata, one of the six Greek cities and a total of one hundred European cities chosen by the European Commission as part of the program to create climate neutral cities by 2030, has been charting its own path towards climate neutrality for three years.

This effort is reflected in the climate contract that the city has formulated with the aim, among other things, of reducing gas emissions by 94% through 77 actions in 4 axes. So far, according to data from the municipality of Kalamata, 7 projects have already been implemented, while 17 are in the implementation phase. In particular, projects have been implemented concerning the production of energy from a photovoltaic park of DEFAK, energy upgrading of the swimming pool, shared bicycle system and EPOH, domestic and neighborhood composting, energy upgrading of municipal lighting, pocket parks, residential reciprocators recyclers while indicatively to be implemented are projects related to urban regeneration, the configuration of the OSE park, the construction of the Elias park, the bioclimatic regeneration of the Phytia square, the controlled parking, the energy upgrade of the Industrial Park, the interventions in public spaces as well as the “Schoolheroes” Green School.

As the deputy mayor for Strategic Planning and Climate Neutrality, civil engineer, Vassilis Papaevstathiou, explains to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, Kalamata is a city that has been strongly experiencing environmental risks in recent years.

“We see, we experience the anxiety and stress of everyday life of citizens, the difficulties of local businesses and at the same time we have to plan with a vision and a strategy for what our cities will be like for the coming years and above all, what cities we will inherit to our children. Kalamata belongs to the network of six climate-neutral Greek cities, part of the 100 European cities that have committed to become climate-neutral by 2030, i.e. to balance greenhouse gas emissions with what the natural receptors of our region can absorb. So we are in this pilot ecosystem, because exactly in 2050 the big goal of the European Union is to try to contain the increase in temperature and not to have the very strong effects of climate change that we have observed in recent years. Becoming climate neutral and environmentally responsible is not a luxury. It is a necessity, for us and for the ecosystem that we will pass on to our children and future generations. For the right of future generations to have the same access to resources that we have. We want a city that is environmentally friendly, technologically smart and socially just”Mr. Papaevstathiou emphasized to APE-MPE on the sidelines of an event held a few days ago for the European Climate Pact as part of the EU Regions Week – Close to You program, with the cooperation of INZEB (Coordinator of the European Climate Pact in Greece) of the European Committee of the Regions and the Regional Union of Municipalities of Attica.

The roadmap developed in the context of the climate contract includes actions on energy, sustainable mobility, infrastructure, natural resource management, circular economy and environmental education, among others. Scientific bodies such as the University of Peloponnese and the Region of Peloponnese are actively involved through the creation of a climate adaptation observatory in collaboration with the Academy of Athens.

However, the cooperation of citizens and young people in particular, through education and awareness initiatives, will be decisive.

“We want it to become a common property of the citizens. It is important that citizens and civil society are part of this because it is not just about 2030. We need to set a vision that goes beyond 2030 and speaks to the world in a simple way. We have called this “Kalamata a city to live in”, i.e. a city that invests in its quality of life. The Municipality of Kalamata has been implementing for many years many European programs related to urban regeneration, sustainable mobility, energy upgrading of buildings. However, while we also have primary plans, plans for urban accessibility, sustainable mobility, sustainable urban development, what our participation in the Master Plan gives us is a strategic participatory vision that unifies all these scattered tools in a common direction. notes Mr. Papaevstathiou to APE-MPE and adds that it is very important that the world be part of the effort and planning from the beginning. “That’s why we invest so much in education and schools. The best ambassadors for the climate are families and children,” he underlines.

Kalamata, as he explains, in addition to the challenges it faces, such as rising waters and coastal erosion – given that it is a coastal city – flooding and forest fires, has been tested in the past in crises, such as the devastating earthquake of 1986. In fact, in this context, in the Kalamata Innovation Center Kalamata.Lab which has been created due to the participation in initiative NetZero Cities of the Network of European Climate Neutral Cities until 2030, there is a special room dedicated to the earthquake of 1986 where those who visit it revive memories of the phenomenon.

At the same time, among other things, research programs concerning the monitoring of marine risks and the protection of the coastal zone have been developed, while her efforts have already found resonance outside the Greek walls. In particular, in the summer of 2026, Kalamata has been invited to participate in an exhibition at the German Architecture Museum (Deutsches Architekturmuseum – DAM) in Frankfurt, entitled “Too Hot – Cities in Climate Transition”, being, together with another Portuguese city, the only representatives of the Mediterranean region. The report will examine strategies for climate-neutral urban development focusing on environmental, socially just and inclusive approaches. The aim is to highlight the complexity and diversity of urban transition processes in different European climate zones and urban environments, while presenting participatory models for a more equitable adaptation to sustainable change.

It is noted that in the Program of the European Commission “100 Climate Neutral Cities by 2030 by and for citizens”Athens, Thessaloniki, Kalamata, Ioannina, Trikala and Kozani also participate.