Thessaloniki Places Citizens at the Top with Resilience Strategy Launch

Solutions aiming to guarantee the well-being of city residents by tapping into human resources and talent to strengthen the urban economy while respecting its natural resources is at the center of the first citywide resilience strategy in Greece, launched recently in the northern port city of Thessaloniki.

As part of its participation in the 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) initiative pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation, the Thessaloniki resilience strategy was presented during the ”Thessaloniki 2030 – Presenting A New Urban Development Model” event last week by its mayor, Yiannis Boutaris, and Deputy Mayor for Urban Resilience & Development Planning Lina Liakou.

The scheme focuses on four main goals:

• shaping a sustainable city with mobility and systems that serve its residents
• co-creating an inclusive city that invests in its human talent
• building a dynamic urban economy through effective governance
• re-discovering the city’s relationship with the sea

The goals will be broken down into 30 objectives and over 100 actions.

Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris

“The year 2030 is not far away – it is 13 years in the horizon. Looking back 13 years from now, we were celebrating the 2004 Summer Olympics in Greece, unaware of the impending economic and political crisis’’ Boutaris said.

”Significant changes can happen in 13 years and our city has survived many of those over the centuries. Now is the time to maximize our efforts to ensure a legacy for future generations and together create a new roadmap for the ongoing development of the city.”

Thessaloniki joined the 100RC network in 2014, selected out of more than 1,000 applicants. Together with the Metropolitan Development Agency, the municipal authority developed the strategy that delivers both local and metropolitan-scale solutions.

“The work to create a citywide strategy in the midst of a crucial period of human and economic challenges in Greece is a moment of progress. Through the implementation of this strategy, Thessaloniki will be able to leverage partnership and funding in new and innovative ways to create an economically dynamic, welcoming city for generations,” said Michael Berkowitz, president of 100 Resilient Cities.