Energy Poverty in Greece and the contribution of green and social innovation to address the problem

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“The status of Energy Poverty in Greece and the contribution of green and social innovation to address the problem”.

Athens, May 4th 2016

A recent study conducted by the European Parliament showed that 36% of Greek households were experiencing energy/fuel poverty during 2013, in other words facing difficulties maintaining comfort conditions in their homes.

Three organizations, the  Heinrich Böll Foundation Greece, the social enterprise Wind of Renewal and the Institute of Zero Energy Buildings, active in the fields of ecology, energy savings and sustainability are joining their forces with the aim of publishing a policy paper with reference to “The status of Energy Poverty in Greece and the contribution of green and social innovation to address the problem”.

Within this context, the aforementioned organizations in collaboration with the Athens Resilience and Sustainability office, organised the 1st workshop with the aim to enhance the dialogue among key stakeholders as well as to exchange ideas with focusing on the minimization of the energy poverty phenomenon in Greece. The workshop took place on April 20th 2016, and was the first of a series of preparatory actions in order to collect as much information and suggestions as possible, to be incorporated in the policy paper.

Participatory procedures gave the opportunity for an open discussion among representatives of institutional, academic and social/civil organizations, who responded positively to the invitation.  The dialogue was structured around 7 questions related to the causes and characteristics of the phenomenon, of energy poverty, and another 8 pertaining to policy change proposals and the active participation of the addressed citizens.

Representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism, the Technical Chamber of Greece, the Center for Renewable Energy Sources and Savings, the National Observatory of Athens, the Technical Assistance for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency in Greece – GIZ, attended the workshop on behalf of various institutional sectors.

The Academic sector was represented by professors from the University of Athens, the National Technical University of Athens, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Technical Education Institute of Athens. The workshop was also attended by representatives from municipalities located within the Attica Prefecture. More specifically, the Athens Resilience and Sustainability Office – Municipality of Athens, the Municipality of Agios Dimitrios, the Municipality of Egaleo and the Municipality of Nea Smirni.

Furthermore, representatives from the Greek Ombudsman – Independent Authority, the Employees Association of Social Housing, the Citizen’s Inspectorate for Sustainable Development, Greenpeace and the Hellenic Passive House Institute contributed to the discussions, while a number of students, researchers, journalists, MEP’s associates and citizens were present and joined the dialogue.

A second workshop will follow in mid-June where the first draft of the policy paper will be presented. Stakeholders from various sectors will have the opportunity to provide feedback which may be incorporated prior to its finalisation. The final edition of the policy paper is scheduled to be presented in September 2016.

Conference: Social Innovation in Healthcare, 28-29 May 2016

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Conference on Social Innovation in Health care

Athens, 28-29 May 2016

Healthcare landscape is dramatically changing today, along with issues such as an aging society, expanding lifestyle related diseases and the ongoing financial crisis. The social innovation in healthcare entrenches problems through interdisciplinary and intersectoral approaches and innovative business models, including new processes like reorganised care-pathways; community health models, home visiting and in-home health care services, new products like mobile applications for health and e-health; new practices that include patient empowerment and participation and health care reforms focused on population health outcomes.

In this context, the social cooperative Anemos Ananeosis / Wind of Renewal, in cooperation with the City of Athens and the Greek Green Cities Network, and with the support of the Representation of the European Commission in Greece and Frienrich Ebert Stiftung, are organising a conference on Social Innovation in Healthcare, focused mainly on in-home health care services. The conference will be in Athens on Saturday, 28 May and Sunday, 29 May 2016.

The aim of the conference is:

  • to present the Greek and European reality concerning the social innovation in the health sector, with emphasis on implemented pilot projects in-home health care services
  • to identify the existing problems and the immediate priorities, concerning in-home health care models
  • to highlight the role of “municipal clinics”, “social clinics” and “social pharmacies” in reforming the current health care system,
  • to debate on the accreditation of social enterprises on health services and in-home health care services
  •  to disseminate good practices,
  • to contribute in the development of a sustainable policy for strategies, practices and social investments in actions which combine conventional social policy and social innovation in healthcare.

Target groups

  • Doctors and nurses, academia’s, practitioners
  • Staff of municipal social services
  • Staff and volunteers of municipal clinics, social clinics and social pharmacies
  • Civil society organisations, e.g. patient organisations, NGOs
  • Students of relevant disciplines
  • Political and administrative staff of the Ministry of Health and Local Authorities

Structure

The two-day event will combine panels, where innovators and experts from Greece and other EU countries will be asked to share their solutions and experience, and workshops, where the participating groups will exchange views on different aspects of the issue.

During the first day, the main sessions will focus on:

  • In-home healthcare services and the national health system – specialized actions, pilot projects, local initiatives
  • The European experience in in-home healthcare services and nursing, and community health systems
  • The role of local authorities and civil society on social innovation in healthcare: the European and Greek experience
  • Round table: The European policy and the European Parliament for social innovation in healthcare

The workshops of the second day will focus on:

  • The synergies and role of the central state, the civil society organizations and the health staff on in-home healthcare
  • Institutional aspects concerning the operation of in-home healthcare in Greece

Contact: windofrenewal@gmail.com

tel 00302103803959

 

Wind of Renewal / ANEMOS ANANEOSIS: our goals

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Our goals are:

  • information, good practises exchange and initiatives for the promotion of green – circular economy
  • a deep analysis of strategies, policies and practices for a greener economy
  • enhance the exchange of knowledge, cooperation, self-organisation and networking among the social cooperatives (regardless their legal status) in a local, regional, national and European level and cooperation based on values, principles and common positions, a Code of Conduct for Social Enterprises
  • development of social cooperative structures, skills and capacities using the European experience, expertise, innovation and research
  • enhance the dialog among basic social partners, research centers, local communities for the development of the social, solidary and cooperative economy,
  • promote proper education schemes in order to enhance social cooperatives.

In order to achieve our goals, Anemos Ananeosis (Wind of Renewal) seeks for synergies and co-operations with a broad network of stakeholders that are active in a local, regional, national and European level.