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A new open-access article is now available: “Assessing national climate-neutrality plans through a modelling nexus lens: the case of Greece.” Publishing this work within the Nature Portfolio marks an important recognition of its scientific contribution and policy relevance.

The article presents—for the first time—a fully integrated energy–land–water modelling nexus to assess Greece’s transition to climate neutrality. This interdisciplinary approach captures the real-world complexity of national climate strategies, where decisions in one sector create ripple effects across others.

Using a linked suite of models—including the FABLE Calculator, LEAP, WaterReqGCH, LandReqCalcGCH, and BiofuelGCH—the analysis examines how Greece’s key energy, agricultural, and water policies interact and what these interactions imply for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Key findings include:

• Energy-related emissions could decline almost fivefold by 2050 under optimistic, fully coordinated policy implementation.

• Total energy demand could decrease by approximately 20%, driven by efficiency improvements and structural changes.

• Domestic biofuel production potential can significantly support further decarbonisation.

• Current strategies often underestimate important interdependencies, including land requirements for renewable energy deployment and trade-offs across land–water–energy policies.

• Governance, planning, and infrastructure limitations remain major obstacles, highlighting the need for unified, ambitious, systems-based implementation.

The article is authored by Phoebe Koundouri, Angelos Alamanos, Ioannis Arampatzidis, Stathis Devves, Konstantinos Dellis, and Chris Deranian.

Reference:

Koundouri, P., Alamanos, A., Arampatzidis, I. et al. (2025). Assessing national climate-neutrality plans through a modelling nexus lens: the case of Greece. npj Climate Action, 4, 113. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44168-025-00318-2

Read our team’s new paper published in the Journal of Sea Research (Elsevier), which analyses how climate change and sea-level rise may increase berth down-time and port-basin agitation in two key Mediterranean ports: Piraeus (Greece) and Limassol (Cyprus). The results contribute to more climate-resilient planning for future port operations and infrastructure.

 Read the paper 

Authors: Michalis Chondros, Andreas Papadimitriou, Anastasios Metallinos, Vasiliki Chalastani, Conrad Landis, Dimitris Spyrou, Chrysi Laspidou, Prof. Phoebe Koundouri and Vasiliki Tsoukala—for their collaboration within the Horizon 2020 ARSINOE_EU project .

ARSINOE is an EU-funded project focusing on the development of climate-resilient regions through systemic solutions and innovations. The project integrates the Systems Innovation Approach (SIA) and the Climate Innovation Window (CIW) to build an ecosystem for climate-change adaptation solutions, demonstrated through nine proof-of-concept cases, including the “Mediterranean Ports” demonstrator.

On Monday, 24 November 2025, the ReSEES Laboratory at Athens University of Economics and Business hosted the Final General Assembly of the NAVGREEN project, a flagship initiative funded by the Recovery and Resilience Fund under Greece’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan Greece 2.0.

Professor Dr. Phoebe Koundouri (Principal Investigator, AUEB) and Professor Dimitrios V. Lyridis (Project Coordinator, NTUA) delivered keynote speeches highlighting the project’s major outcomes and future directions.

Dr. Conrad Landis presented the deliverables of AUEB, including:

• A framework assessing how the European Green Deal aligns with the project’s methodology and priority areas.

• A social cost–benefit assessment of the pathways developed within the project.

NAVGREEN introduces innovative solutions to support the maritime sector in reducing its environmental impact. The project promotes cleaner marine fuels, energy-efficient ships and ports, and smart digital solutions that enhance the sustainability and efficiency of maritime operations. It develops and evaluates solutions for alternative fuel production and storage, green upgrades to vessels and port infrastructure, and digital tools for improved monitoring and decision-making. The project also supports the circular economy, encouraging green recycling and energy recovery.

A key outcome is the decision-support tool and comprehensive roadmap designed to guide shipping companies, ports, inspectors, manufacturers, and researchers in their transition to a low-carbon maritime future.

Further information about the project and its results is available at: https://navgreen.gr/

We are pleased to present the latest Activity Report of AE4RIA, covering an exceptionally dynamic and impactful period for our network. Under the leadership of Professor Dr. Phoebe Koundouri, the team has achieved significant milestones across science, policy, and innovation.

Highlights from the report include:

• Major international recognitions and appointments

• AE4RIA’s strong presence at the 80th UN General Assembly and Climate Week NYC

• Participation in global conferences, missions, and high-level policy events

• Key achievements across our EU-funded projects

• New scientific publications, policy briefs, and media features

This report demonstrates AE4RIA’s growing impact at the science–policy interface and underscores our collective commitment to accelerating the sustainability transition.

Read the full report