Mar 22 2016
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Social Entrepreneurship Forum 2015

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The 2nd Social Entrepreneurship Forum took place on 9-10 November at the Agricultural University of Athens (Find the program and available material here). Numerous participants – social enterprises, stakeholders and support organisations for social enterprises and social economy – addressed matters relating to cooperation, networking and self-organization of the social enterprise community. A number of critical issues emerged and was discussed thoroughly; the need for networking and cooperation between social enterprises and support organizations, the demand for commonly accepted practices as well as structures for the development of the ecosystem in general and in particular for stakeholders’ education, the support of efforts in their infancy, the development of appropriate financial and funding tools. Above all, the protection of the community from isolated phenomena that can compromise the whole.

The event provided a platform for the development of the necessary openness and trust, to stimulate dialogue on shared values and practices, opportunities and concerns, dissemination of good practices, learning from one another, both in Greece and elsewhere in Europe.

The Social Entrepreneurship Forum 2015 reached a Declaration agreed on a Framework of Principles and Values, which will form the basis of a Code of Conduct which we intend to co-shape by March 2016 at the latest. It, also, includes the commitment to create a common on-line platform based on the principles of the Commons (Commons – Creative Commons) that will provide accurate and timely information about social enterprises and social economy and innovative tools for the communication of community and coordination of networking and empowerment activities at local, regional, national and EU level as well as for concerted presence in social media.

It is a common desire for the Social Entrepreneurship Forum not only to develop in an annual institution for dialogue, information and networking but also to become in the future the capstone of coordinated and well organized thematic or regional meetings that will bring experience, recommendations, and joint initiatives to the Forum.

Available material of the Forum you can find in the Forum’s website www.seforum.gr

Mar 22 2016
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Green regional development

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In the context of greening regional development social cooperative “Anemos Ananeosis” and Heinrich Böll Stiftung Greece organize a series of activities with the aim to strengthen the capacities of social, professional and regional stakeholders, as well as of local authorities for the implementation of plans of ecological and social innovation and the full utilization of national and European funding opportunities. Networking and collaboration among the actors for such plans’ development and implementation is a key element in the planned actions, the majority of which is to be realized in strong collaboration with the Greek Green Cities Network.

Among planned activities is a series of capacity building seminars where good practices and models on green economic activities from several areas and countries will be presented and the road for their transfer and adaptation to the regional and local context will be discussed. In addition funding opportunities provided by the “Partnership Agreement/National Strategic Reference Network” 2014-2020, on issues such as the following will be recorded and presented to local authorities representatives, staff, members of the local civil society, social entrepreneurs, citizens tailored to their needs and visions for their city’s future.

  • Urban regeneration towards ecological and social direction
  • Green jobs
  • Energy saving and transition to 100% renewable energy
  • Promotion of energy cooperatives in schools
  • Sustainable forest management and fire prevention
  • Sustainable transport plans
  • New tourism models which combine sustainable economic activity with environmental protection and culture
  • Low energy consumption or zero-emission ships
  • Social Entrepreneurship
  • Climate change adaptation
  • Sustainable public procurements

The first seminar took place in March in Kozani, the city in presidency of the Greek Green Cities Network. The second seminar followed in the city of Chania, Crete in May, the third one in Agios Dimitrios, Attica on 23 and the last one in Drama in November.

Mar 22 2016
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Planning Transition to Energy Efficient Cities

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Seminar Planning Transition to Energy Efficient Cities – Energy Efficiency on local level
11-12/06/15, Technopolis, Athens

Two day seminar on Planning Transition to Energy Efficient Cities – Energy Efficiency on local level was organised on 11 and 12 June 2015, at Texhnopolis, Athens by the Greek Green Cities Network in collaboration with Technopolis, City of Athens, Wind of Renewal and Heinrich Böll Stiftung Greece.

The seminar was addressed to elected – civil staff, managers and staff of municipalities especially from the departments of  programming, energy-climate, urban planning and construction as well as representatives of civil society, unemployed and staff related businesses.

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Objectives of the seminar:

  • To bridge the gap between the needs of municipalities and the skills of political and administrative staff in energy saving,
  • The support of implementing action plans energy efficiency,
  • The strengthening of the capacity of workers in local government through the promotion of co-operation and networking,
  • The provision of information to citizens and civil society for the benefits and ways to save energy,
  • The dissemination of good practices and models from Greece and abroad,
  • The support for the creation of local cooperatives for production and energy efficiency and the control of energy by the local communities (community power).

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The seminar started on Thursday 11 June with three sections providing valuable input on important topics relating with planning and implementing energy conservation programs. The first section was about legislation, policy and funding. The second focused on the experience earned so far by municipalities on energy efficiency programs and RES applications through the presentation of examples from local authorities represenatives. In the last section good examples from energy refrufishment and application of RES in municipal buildings, schools, residences and urban space were presented.

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On the second day, Friday 12 June, (hours 09.00 -18.00), four interactive workshops took place, with the participation of representatives of municipalities and of civil society, with a view to strengthening capacities, experiences, information, networking and implementation of pilot projects.

Workshop 1: Energy upgrade of municipal buildings – Sustainable public procurement for energy saving projects
Workshop 2: Energy upgrade of residences with the active participation of municipalities
Workshop 3: Energy upgrade of public space
Workshop 4: Sustainable public procurement for energy upgrade projects in public space

In the afternoon of the same day the findings – results of the workshops were presented along with suggestions for strengthening the capacities of the municipalities in programms on energy-saving and renewable energy sources.

Please see more photos here