A focal point of the Climate Action Info Day entitled Taking Action: Saving the Future (March 5, 2025) was the presentation by Professor Georgios Sylaios, head of the Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH) team in the EU-funded OTTERS project.
Organized by the 5th General Lyceum of Kavala, the Info Day was attended by over 100 senior high school students and 20 professors, equally divided between in-person and online attendees from the cities of Kavala and Thessaloniki in Northern Greece.
Speakers included Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Sakis Arnaoutoglou and Ioannis Maniatis, Nikolaos Kontos (Head of the Kavala Forest Service), and Dimitris Spitseris (Head of the regional Europe Direct office).
Professor Sylaios delivered an insightful presentation on the critical importance of water quality in the context of the ongoing climate crisis. He highlighted several key points:
- Τhe challenges and opportunities for research and conservation associated with the vast expanse of oceans that cover 70% of the Earth’s surface and constitute 95% of its biosphere.
- The variety of Water Usage, the concept of Water Footprint and the water scarcity that affect one third of the global population.
- The transformative role of citizen science in enhancing data collection and promoting environmental awareness though the example of the OTTERS project activities.
- The particularly dire implications of climate change both at the Mediterranean and the local scale.
These themes were echoed by other speakers, reinforcing the urgency of environmental action and the need to engage local communities to tackle the myriad challenges posed by climate change.
Spitseris discussed the European Union’s environmental policies and the challenges of the climate crisis. He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts as outlined in the Green Deal.
Kontos highlighted the significant impact of climate change on forest ecosystems, particularly in the local context, and underscored the vital role they play in mitigating climate change and the urgent need to preserve them.
MEP Maniatis provided a European perspective on environmental and climate change issues. Drawing on his previous experience as Minister of Environment, he discussed the environmental, economic, and political stakes involved and the need for comprehensive policies while explaining the repercussions on national level.
MEP Arnaoutoglou discussed the psychological impacts of the climate crisis, such as anxiety about the future and grief over environmental losses. His insights highlighted the human aspect of climate change and the importance of addressing mental health.
Overall, the Info Day was a resounding success with the high school students as attested by the lively Q & A sessions that followed each presentation, providing valuable insights and fostering a spirit of collaboration and action among participants.
