Summer School EU Climate Policy and Governance Georgetown University & UOA [May 2026]

From 18 to 31 May 2026, the summer school on the topic: EU Climate Policy and Governance was held at the premises of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (UOA). The summer school was jointly organized by the Earth Commons Institute of Georgetown University and the UNESCO Chair for Climate Diplomacy of UOA.

The summer school was attended by twenty students from Georgetown University Washington DC Campus, Georgetown University Qatar Campus and UOA. The school was taught by Professor Emmanuella Doussis (Department of Political Science and Public Administration, UOA & Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on Climate Diplomacy) and Assistant Professor George Dikaios (Department of Port Management and Shipping, UOA & Senior Research Fellow of the UNESCO Chair on Climate Diplomacy). They were also responsible for the academic program of the school, while the overall overview and logistics of the program from Georgetown University was led by Katerina Downward (Managing Director, Georgetown University’s Earth Commons Institute, Greece).

The intensive 60-hour summer school was structured around a series of lectures on the institutional structure of the European Union, the climate policy of the European Union and the broader European governance system, with an emphasis on addressing climate change and environmental protection. Also, simulation exercises of different institutions of the European Union were organized for the practical understanding of European activity. At the same time, the program featured speakers who, either in their academic or professional capacity, discussed specific aspects of the above topics, such as the functioning of the European Commission and the European Parliament, the economics and science of climate change, and the protection of biodiversity. The invited speakers were (in alphabetical order):

• Giannis Alexiou, Nature-based solutions associate, WWF Greece & PhD Cand. at the Dept. of Political Science and Public Administration, UOA
• Constantinos Cartalis, Professor at the Dept. of Physics, UOA & Member of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change
• Nikos Charalambides, Executive Director of Greenpeace in Greece
• Vassilis Chatzopoulos, Professor at the Dept. of International, European and Regional Studies, Panteion University
• Ioli Christopoulou, Co-founder & Policy Director, The Green Tank
• Anna Diamantopoulou, former European Commissioner (1999-2004) & Founder and President of the think tank “DIKTIO – Network for Reform in Greece and Europe”
• Thodoris Georgakopoulos, journalist and author & Founder, 1830lab
• Raha Hakimdavar, Research Professor at the Earth Commons & Senior Advisor to the Deans at Georgetown University in Qatar and the Earth Commons
• Othon Kaminiaris, Expert on Environment and Climate Change Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Petros Kokkalis, former Member of European Parliament (2019-2024) & Secretary General, KOSMOS (2024-2026)
• Nikos Mantzaris, Co-founder & Senior Policy Analyst, The Green Tank
• Isabelle Moine-Dupuis, Professor at the School of Law and Political Science of the University of Bourgogne
• Andreas Papandreou, Professor at the Dept. of Economics, UOA
• Panayiotis Pafilis, Professor at the Dept. of Biology, UOA & Senior Faculty Advisor, Earth Commons Greece
• Yiannis Rigas, Expert on Expert on Environment and Climate Change Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Rodis Savvakis, Founder & CEO, fyi.news
• Loukas Tsoukalis, Prof. Emeritus UOA, Professor at Sciences Po Paris & President of the Board, ELIAMEP

In addition, the students visited

• the Hellenic Parliament and spoke with the MP and Chair of the Parliament’s Environment Committee and graduate of the UOA and Georgetown University, Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou;
• the Europa Experience space of ​​the Office of the European Parliament, where they had the opportunity to simulate the role of MEPs and negotiate a legislative proposal;
• Mount Parnitha, where they had the opportunity to learn about local nature protection actions from WWF Greece;
• the Ancient Agora, which they were guided by archaeologist John Papadopoulos;
• the Latsis Foundation, where they attended a conference co-organized by Columbia University and the University of Western Macedonia on energy and climate policy issues; and
• the Aesthetic Forest of Hymettus, where a guided tour and presentation was held by the Philodassiki Athens Association on the importance of the forest, as well as voluntary activity took place aimed at providing a practical understanding of the actions required for the protection of nature.

For information, click here.