Cities along the Mediterranean unite, taking action to combat the escalating climate crisis together
Let's dive into the COMPOSE project, a brainstorming session of cross-disciplinary experts and proven strategies, all aimed at supporting small and medium-sized cities as they grapple with the climate catastrophe and the transition to renewable energy.
Perched atop Crete, 700 meters above sea level, lies Anogeia, one of the highest inhabited villages. The residents here face freezing temperatures, and with 2,000 people relying on tourism and herding for their livelihood, heating is a must. Only a decade ago, most homes still relied on traditional fireplaces, which discharged smoke indoors, polluted the air, and accelerated deforestation in the surrounding mountains. With energy needs increasing, environmental worries looming, and the lingering effects of the Greek economic crisis, the local administration sought out eco-friendly, budget-friendly alternatives.
Anogeia joined the COMPOSE ranks, a European initiative that operated from 2016 to 2019 and supported renewable energy projects across 11 Mediterranean destinations. The goal? To help small and medium-sized municipalities surmount key obstacles such as staffing shortages, budget gaps, and technical expertise limitations when developing and implementing sustainable energy plans. Major funding for the €2.5 million project came from the European cohesion policy, covering around 75% of the costs. The project aimed to boost the use of renewable energy and cut CO2 emissions in the Mediterranean, a region warming 20% faster than the global average.
The neighboring city of Rethymno also partnered with COMPOSE in tackling sustainability issues caused by rapid urban growth. Rethymno initiated a used cooking oil collection system, converting this waste into biofuel, and set up solar panels to power municipal buildings and charging stations for electric cars. According to the city's mayor, George Marinakis, "Saving our planet is everyone's job, and I believe no one should expect someone else to do it instead."
The legacy of the COMPOSE project persists in the COMPOSE toolbox, a web-based platform maintained by Stavroula and her students at the University of Crete's Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems Lab. This platform functions as both a data repository and a practical guide, offering municipalities and stakeholders a streamlined, actionable approach to customize climate mitigation strategies to their local scenarios.
So, if you're a decision-maker in a city seeking sustainable solutions, take a peek at the COMPOSE toolbox. It's free, it's accessible, and it just might help your city navigate the path towards eco-friendly energy and a greener future.
Quick Access- Sustainable living- Renewable Energy Solutions- Climate Change Mitigation Strategies- European Collaboration- Greek Cities
- In Anogeia, a village perched on Crete, residents have adopted biofuel as an eco-friendly and budget-friendly alternative to traditional fireplaces, using waste cooking oil to generate energy and reduce deforestation.
- The science behind the use of renewable energy and climate change mitigation strategies is accessible through the COMPOSE toolbox, a web-based platform developed by Stavroula and her students at the University of Crete's Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems Lab.
- The COMPOSE project, a European initiative aimed at supporting small and medium-sized cities transitioning to renewable energy, has led to the development of shortcuts for overcoming staffing shortages, budget gaps, and technical expertise limitations in municipalities.
- Health-and-wellness and environmental concerns are being addressed in small and medium-sized cities like Anogeia and Rethymno, as they collaborate with the COMPOSE project in their efforts to combat climate change and promote the use of sustainable energy solutions.
