Economist Conferences – Greece
The Ninth Sustainability Summit for SE Europe & the Mediterranean
October 13th and 14th 2025 | Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso, Kavouri
Seeking a new balance amidst a derailed green transition
Amid a backlash against climate policies, the global sustainability agenda faces unprecedented headwinds. As multilateralism weakens, and geopolitical rivalries intensify, the very pillars of international collaboration are under siege. The European Union’s leadership in climate action is also being tested. The bloc faces competition from China’s dominance in clean technologies and uncertainty caused by the rapid pace at which America’s new administration is rolling back environmental protections.
In this volatile landscape, “Seeking a new balance amidst a derailed green transition”, Economist Impact’s Ninth Sustainability Summit for south-east Europe and the Mediterranean, will address difficult questions. The event will take place on October 13th and14th 2025 in Athens.
Topics include:
· Can Europe remain a leader of the green transition without sacrificing its competitiveness?
· Will global trade evolve into a battlefield of tariffs, or can new alliances emerge to support sustainable growth?
· How do artificial intelligence, energy security and the retreat of democratic values affect the world’s ability to respond to the climate crisis?
In partnership with in association with
Speakers
Stefanos Agiasoglou
Chief executive
Assia Bensalah Alaoui
Ambassador at large to the King of Morocco; co-chair, Malabo Montpellier Forum, Morocco; member
Theodora Antonakaki
Director, Climate Change and Sustainability Centre
Stella Apostolaki
Executive director, Center of Excellence in Sustainability
Marios Arampatzis
UNICEF youth delegate to COP29 Azerbaijan, member of the Child and Youth Advisory Board, UNICEF Greece
Konstantinos Aravossis
Professor, UNESCO chairholder on green innovation and circular economy
Helena Athoussaki
Chief sustainability officer
Elina Bardram
Director for Climate Resilience and Information Management, Directorate-General for Climate Action
Agenda
- 13 Oct The Ninth Sustainability Summit for SE Europe & the Mediterranean - Day one
- 13 Oct The Ninth Sustainability Summit for SE Europe & the Mediterranean - Day two
Welcome coffee and registration
Opening remarks:
Aftershocks: sustainability amid climate denial and geopolitical turmoil
Throughout the world climate-change denial, culture wars and public backlash against environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards are contributing to the collapse of a consensus on climate change. In the Mediterranean region deglobalisation, rising border tensions and climate-induced migration are compounding these challenges and exacerbating existing security concerns. Can regional leadership rise to the occasion?
Alasdair Ross, countries editor, The World Ahead 2026, The Economist
Andreas Papandreou, professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, co-chair; UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network Greece
Sophie Daskalaki-Mytilineou, chair, UN Global Compact Network Greece (via connection)
Alexandra Palli, president, CSR Hellas
Opening session:
The green paradox: can Europe stay competitive while leading on sustainability?
As Europe advances its ambitious climate goals, a central tension emerges: how to stay globally competitive while promoting sustainability. Balancing industrial policy with climate ambition is increasingly difficult to strike, especially in sectors like EVs, hydrogen, batteries, and solar. The EU’s Nature Restoration Law raises further questions: Does environmental leadership foster green growth or limits economic development? As the bloc sets its climate targets for 2040 this session asks whether it’s time to raise the bar or confront the limits of its leadership role in global climate policy.
Guests of honour and keynote speakers:
Kateryna Yushchenko, former First Lady of Ukraine; member, Nizami Ganjavi International Center
Csaba Kőrösi, former president of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA); member, Nizami Ganjavi International Center
Volkan Bozkır, former president of the UNGA, former minister for European Union Affairs, Government of Turkey; member, Nizami Ganjavi International Center
Sir Partha Dasgupta, professor and fellow, University of Cambridge
Chaired by: Alasdair Ross, countries editor, The World Ahead 2026, The Economist
Green trade wars: is global climate co-operation collapsing?
Rising global tensions over climate policies are putting international co-operation at risk. The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism has sparked pushback from its trading partners while China’s dominance in clean tech poses strategic challenges for the West. With president Donald Trump signaling a retreat from green subsidies, is the world heading towards competing green blocs—or a fragmented climate economy?
Dimitri Papalexopoulos, chairman, Titan Cement Group
Michael Stassinopoulos, executive director, VIOHALCO, chairman, ELVALHALCOR
Pavlos Mylonas, chief executive, National Bank of Greece
Chaired by:
Andreas Papandreou, professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Networking break
Decarbonisation: can Greece lead the way in Europe?
This panel will examine Greece’s progress on implementing its decarbonisation strategy. What does it mean for the country’s economy, jobs and growth prospects? How are the plans to redevelop former lignite areas proceeding? Can Greece become a model for the whole of Europe in this field?
Nikos Tsafos, deputy minister of energy, Government of Greece
Yannis Maniatis, former minister, member of the European Parliament; vice-president of the European Socialists for international relations, defence and energy security
Barbara Morgante, chief executive, Enaon
Helena Athoussaki, chief sustainability officer, Motor Oil Group
Thalia Valkouma, president and chief executive, Faria Renewables
Costis Stambolis, chairman and executive director, Institute of Energy for SE Europe
Chaired by: Alasdair Ross, countries editor, The World Ahead 2026, The Economist
Climate crisis and climate policies in times of geopolitical upheaval
In January the secretary-general of the United Nations, António Guterres, spoke of record temperatures as a “climate breakdown”. Since then Europe has had its hottest summer ever. Is the 1.5°C warming target in the Paris Agreement still realistic? What are the alternative scenarios? How can global climate co-operation be reinforced?
Rosen Plevneliev, former president of Bulgaria; member, Nizami Ganjavi International Center
Hakima El Haite, board member, United Nations Zero waste initiative; president, Africa Pact, minister of Environment of Morocco 2013-17- VP Paris agreement, member, Nizami Ganjavi International Center
Gavin Schmidt, climate scientist; fellow, American Geophysical Union and American Association for the Advancement of Science, United States
Gidon Bromberg, co-director, EcoPeace Middle East, Israel
Nikolas Farantouris, MEP, professor of EU law; member of the board, The Spinelli Group
Chaired by: Alasdair Ross, countries editor, The World Ahead 2026, The Economist
How can technology contribute to the fight against the climate crisis?
The session will examine how technology can provide the radical solutions needed to battle the climate crisis. What are the prospects for hydrogen, nuclear energy and carbon capture and storage? How can artificial intelligence (AI) support sustainability? The discussion will also evaluate whether electric cars will need to become more affordable before they can contribute meaningfully.
Michail Bletsas, governor, National Cybersecurity Authority, Greece; director of computing, MIT Media Lab
Giles Dickson, chief executive, WindEurope
Emily Shuckburgh, director, Cambridge Zero, University of Cambridge
Panagiotis Ladakakos, president, Hellenic Wind Energy Association
Chaired by: Alasdair Ross, countries editor, The World Ahead 2026, The Economist
Building resilient business models that prepare for a volatile future
Nikos Papathanasis, alternate minister of national economy and finance, Government of Greece
Julia Tsetis, president and chief executive, UNI-PHARMA and InterMed
Ismini Papakirillou, chief executive, Hellenic Development Bank (HDB)
Stavros Mourelatos, general manager for Greece, Cyprus and Malta, The Coca-Cola Company
Chaired by:
Alexandra Palli, president, CSR Hellas
Why education and training are essential for corporate sustainability
Integrating ESG principles into business strategy requires more than regulatory compliance – it calls for cultural change, strong leadership and continuous capacity building. Education plays a critical role too. Universities and business schools shape the next generation of leaders, while internal company training should ensure that sustainability becomes embedded throughout an organisation. At the same time, aligning sustainability performance indicators with leadership performance and financial decision-making is key to driving transparency, accountability and investor trust.
Theodora Antonakaki, director, Climate Change and Sustainability Centre, Bank of Greece
Chryssa Eleftheriou, sustainability leader, Interamerican Group
Anna Vasila, manager, sustainability and industry affairs, Athens International Airport
Stella Apostolaki, executive director, Center of Excellence in Sustainability, The American College of Greece
Meredith Storey, senior manager, PRME programmes & engagement, UN Global Compact (via connection)
Chaired by: Andreas Papandreou, professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Migration and displacement: the people at the heart of the sustainability agenda
How do wars, population displacement and migration interact with the climate crisis and other environmental disasters? This panel shall highlight the conditions under which peace can lead to the revitalisation of global co-operation on the climate crisis.
Justin Mundy, co-founder and co-chief executive, Mapping Pathways for Security and former chief executive, International Sustainability Unit of the former Prince of Wales (now HM King Charles III)
Thanos Plevris, minister of migration and asylum, Government of Greece
Alexandre Stutzmann, EU representative to the West Bank, Gaza and The United Nations Relief and Works Agency
Chaired by: Andreas Papandreou, professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Networking lunch
End of day one
Welcome coffee and registration
After “the great acceleration”: sustainability amid rapid global shifts
Humanity’s impact on planet earth now seems irreversible. And looming ecological disaster is being exacerbated by climate denial, geopolitical fragmentation and technological upheavals. Reconciling future economic growth with sustainability will require inclusive governance, ecological multilateralism, and scientific integrity. Can global and regional leadership achieve such transformative strategies?
Guest of honour and keynote speaker:
Assia Bensalah Alaoui, ambassador at large to the King of Morocco; co-chair, Malabo Montpellier Forum, Morocco; member, Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco
Chaired by: Alasdair Ross, countries editor, The World Ahead 2026, The Economist
Ports, shipping and the climate challenge: navigating a greener Mediterranean
By embracing biofuels and electrification, ports are becoming key hubs for the energy transition. And green corridors are reshaping logistics, compliance, and competitiveness in the Mediterranean. But pressure on marine biodiversity requires a balance between trade and environmental protection—one that is leading to the increasing influence of ESG risks in maritime finance and investment decisions.
Ansis Zeltiņš, chair, European Sea Ports Organisation
Apostolos Kamarinakis, president, Hellenic Ports Association (ELIME)
Chaired by: Alasdair Ross, countries editor, The World Ahead 2026, The Economist
Circular economy: accelerating climate goals through resource efficiency
Diane Gilpin, founder and chief executive, Smart Green Shipping, United Kingdom
Konstantinos Aravossis, professor, UNESCO chairholder on green innovation and circular economy, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)
Chaired by: Alasdair Ross, countries editor, The World Ahead 2026, The Economist
Green islands on the frontline of sustainability
Greece’s “green islands” are transitioning away from fossil fuels, increasing energy autonomy and security, promoting sustainable transport and strengthening local economies with sustainable investments. Can their experiences be a model for other parts of the country? This session will focus on the green islands of Tilos and Astypalaia.
Maria Kamma, mayor of Tilos
Despoina Paliarouta, secretary-general of energy and mineral resources, Government of Greece
Nikos Komineas, mayor of Astypalaia
George Pechlivanoglou, general director, Eunice Energy Group
Marnie McGregor, chair of the BoD, Ecogenia
Chaired by: Andreas Papandreou, professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Sustainability and social responsibility: the role of the conscious consumer
The panel will explore the impact of consumer attitudes and awareness on influencing more sustainable production and distribution of goods. How much do concepts such as sustainability, equity, transparency, corporate responsibility, and fair trade affect consumer choices?
Simone Cipriani, adjunct professor, Paris Institute of Political Studies and dean,
Milano Fashion Institute, Italy
Stefanos Agiasoglou, chief executive, Public Road Transport
Pavlos Vlachos, Theodore Papalexopoulos chair in sustainability, associate dean of research professor of marketing, Alba Graduate Business School, The American College of Greece
Pavlina Proteou, president and chief executive, Beyond CSR
Chaired by: Alasdair Ross, countries editor, The World Ahead 2026, The Economist
Sustainable transport for equity and economic growth
EU countries are committed to making the bloc climate-neutral by 2050. To do so will require a dramatic transformation of many industries. The transport sector will have to reduce its greenhouse- gas emissions by 90% (compared to 1990 levels). To what extent do current strategies facilitate the sector’s decarbonisation and the enhancement of connectivity across the EU? How is Greece faring so far and what are the next steps?
George Yannis, professor, traffic and safety engineering, director, Traffic Engineering Laboratory, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)
Chaired by: Alasdair Ross, countries editor, The World Ahead 2026, The Economist
Networking break
Water wars? Scarcity, politics and survival in the Mediterranean
As water becomes more scarce the Mediterranean region finds itself conflicted over co-operation and competition in regional water governance. As droughts and water stress intensify, the need for resilient infrastructure becomes critical. Can innovation in desalination, water reuse, and technology-driven conservation offer promising solutions?
The Economist in dialogue with:
Harry Sachinis, chief executive officer, EYDAP
Chaired by: Alasdair Ross, countries editor, The World Ahead 2026, The Economist
Integration of sustainability in business strategy
Stellina Siarapi, secretary-general for private investments, Government of Greece
Marianna Nathanail, head, European Investment Bank Office in Greece
Theodoros Gavriilidis, chief investment officer, LAMDA Development
Co-chaired by:
Alasdair Ross, countries editor, The World Ahead 2026, The Economist
Alexandra Palli, president, CSR Hellas
From insight to impact: double materiality and the next era of sustainable growth
This panel will explore how businesses can strengthen their sustainability strategies by integrating ESG parameters into decision-making, leveraging innovation and applying systems thinking. The discussion will equip participants with fresh insights into how double materiality transforms sustainability strategy and why it is essential for business resilience and competitiveness. It will also provide practical lessons learned from Greek companies’ first CSRD reports, highlighting both progress and areas requiring further support.
Achilleas Ioakeimidis, chief sustainability officer, PPC Group
Antonios Mountouris, group health, safety, environment & sustainable development division manager and member of the executive management team, HELLENiQ ENERGY
Kiara Konti, partner, climate change and sustainability services leader, CESA EY
Ioannis Nikolaou, professor, Democritus University of Thrace
Moderator: Panagiota Lampropoulou, executive director, UN Global Compact Network Greece
Sustainability in agriculture: food security under climate stress
As climate pressures intensify, regions of Greece including Thessaly highlight the urgent need for agricultural resilience. What lessons can these and , offering lessons from crisis zones offer the rest of the region? Regenerative practices, agri-tech and on-the-ground innovation are redefining how farming adapts to a changing environment. Addressing adaptation gaps in rural economies is essential, as is alongside strengthening the links between industry and agriculture to build more resilient and sustainable supply chains.
Kostas Tsiaras, minister of rural development and food, Government of Greece
Chaired by: Alasdair Ross, countries editor, The World Ahead 2026, The Economist
Natural disasters and climate resilience: preparing for the unpredictable
As extreme weather events become more frequent, gaps in civil protection systems become evident and raise pressing questions about preparedness. Effective governance of risk requires clear co-ordination between national and regional authorities, while best practices in rapid response and long-term recovery can offer valuable models for building resilience across sectors. But who should finance climate adaptation?
Giannis Kefalogiannis, minister for climate crisis and civil protection, Government of Greece
Elina Bardram, director for climate resilience and information management, Directorate-General for Climate Action, European Commission
Costas Synolakis, professor, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California
Georgios Boustras, professor in risk assessment, school of sciences, European University Cyprus
Chaired by: Alasdair Ross, countries editor, The World Ahead 2026, The Economist
Youth climate leadership: the next generation takes the reins
As young climate activists age and enter the workforce they are moving beyond protests to influence policy and business decisions. They bring with them fresh innovation, a focus on climate justice, and new forms of activism. While questions remain about whether their voices truly shape intergenerational equity, efforts in climate literacy and long-term governance aim to empower youth. Education systems are also evolving to better prepare them for climate realities ahead.
Mario Arampatzis, UNICEF youth delegate to COP29 Azerbaijan, member of the Child and Youth Advisory Board, UNICEF Greece
Theodora Kosmopoulou, member of the Child and Youth Advisory Board, UNICEF Greece
Co-chaired by:
Andreas Papandreou, professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Alasdair Ross, countries editor, The World Ahead 2026, The Economist
Networking lunch
End of conference
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- 3 networking luncheons
- Coffee breaks
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- Full 3-day conference 3
- networking luncheons coffee breaks and cocktail receptions
- 2 Gala Dinners
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€7.500 tax/VAT excl./ table (8 seats)
- This option includes participation of 8 persons at: full 3-day conference 3 networking luncheons coffee breaks
Venue
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Grand Resort Lagonissi 40th km Athens Sounion, Lagonissi Attica, Athens
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