Heinrich Böll Stiftung - Thessaloniki Office

Thess.Climateschools - Schools Protect the Climate

The environmental educational program Thess-Climateschools - Schools Protect the Climate has started being implemented by 14 primary and secondary schools in the area of Thessaloniki.

Waste pickers’ cooperatives and Social and Solidarity Economy organizations

ARTICLE

Waste pickers have set up cooperatives and other social and solidarity economy organizations (SSEOs), especially in Latin America and South Asia.

assorted plastic bottles scattered on ground

The environmental impact of Social and Solidarity enterprises: a consideration of all operating parameters through examples

ARTICLE

We need to ask ourselves if our responsibility is limited, for example, to supplying a coffee brand of fair and solidarity trade when the product is used in a disposable plastic glass.

By Christina Kontaxi

Hiking Tourism Networks: Economic, Social and Environmental Benefits of the Cheapest Investment in Tourism

ARTICLE

The trails are an excellent field for hiking vacations. The focus is on the concept of 'connectivity' that the trails offer. They connect us with the past, as through them we can see how people before us lived, but they also connect us with a better future, as through history we can learn how to interact with the environment.

By Fivos Tsaravopoulos

Τhe Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung is the German political foundation, affiliated with the German Green Party (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen). With headquarters in Berlin and offices all around the world, our international network acts as think tank and a catalyst for green visions, strategies and for policy reforms towards a democratic, socio-ecological transition of society and economy.
The foundation's office in Greece is based in Thessaloniki since 2012. Our program intends to advance democracy and democratic governance, the protection of human rights, promote political dialogue, develop new concepts and practices towards a socio-ecological transformation of the economy focusing on energy transition and social solidarity economy We also place particular emphasis on gender democracy and intercultural inclusion aiming at the emancipation and the granting of equal rights to all social groups facing discriminations and the risk of social exclusion. We also place particular emphasis on gender democracy and intercultural inclusion aiming at the emancipation and the granting of equal rights to all social groups facing discriminations and the risk of social exclusion.

Social Media & Newsletter

UPCOMING EVENTS

Ecology

The work of Heinrich Böll Foundation Greece in the field of Ecology revolves around just energy transition and environmental sustainability. Our goal is to encourage decision makers and public administrations at local, regional and national levels to establish policies and implement measures in cooperation with our partners, and to empower civil society actors to advocate and engage in activities for a democratic, ecological transformation of Greek society and economy towards social justice and gender equality.

Die Energiewende in den Kommunen

Visit the Ecology page

Energy Transition

Fossil-Fuel Doublespeak

On paper, almost every government in the world is committed to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and keeping global temperatures limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. But too many governments, parroting the oil and gas industry's misleading claims, are actually supporting the expansion of fossil fuel production.

Visit the Energy Transition page

Sustainability

GreenWave Festival 2017

The GreenWave Festival 2017,organized by the Ecological Movement of Thessaloniki for the seventh year in a row, in cooperation with Heinrich Boell Stiftung Greece has peace as its main subject. Within the auspices of the Festival, events are organized with the subject of war and environment, the history of the peace movement as well as the impact of nazism and racism with the culminating point of the Holocaust of Jews.

Visit the Sustainability page

Social Solidarity Economy

The contribution of Social Solidarity Economy to the mitigation of the Climate Crisis

Many small-scale solutions

ARTICLE

Rather than feeling threatened with hunger or loss of control of their land and water through the continually increasing concentration of agriculture in the hands of large companies, people could be able to practice farming in a way that provides them with both a sound home and a meaningful occupation.

By Stephanie Wild

Social Solidarity Economy, defined as the set of different economic practices addressing social needs based on free collaboration and mutual support, is one of the main intervention fields of Heinrich Böll Stiftung in Greece. We want to contribute to the development of SSE practices in Greece on solid ground and proper principles, considering SSE a decisive force for the democratic and ecological transformation of economy and society.

Visit the Social Solidarity Economy page

Democracy

With Europe and the EU facing a time of political and financial crisis, the threats of rising Euroscepticism and populism are increasing. Against this backdrop our work in Greece aims at combating the ideologies of inequality by fostering civil society initiatives towards human rights protection and social inclusion policies as well as at deepening democratic governance through substantial citizens´ participation in political processes at all levels.

Select Respect Festival 2019

The Select Respect Festival 2019 "City and Diversity" will take place 21-24 of November 2019 at Warehouse D of the Thessaloniki port, with four days of discussions, workshops, movie screenings on human rights and a short film competition

Visit the Democracy Page

Human Rights

Gender Discrimination Athens 10-12.10.2019

Legally combatting Gender-based Discrimination in Greece

BOOK PRESENTATION

Heinrich Boell Foundation Greece presents the study "Legally combatting Gender-based Discrimination in Greece" in cooperation with the Select Respect Network and the Gender Alliance Initiative on 10 of October in Athens. An experiential seminar is also organiζed following the presentation, 11-12 of October. Expressions of interest up to 04/10

Visit the Human Rights page

Deepening Democracy

Europe after the Elections - New challenges and uncertainties

DEBATE

The European Union is at historic crossroads, since the choices of the next five-year period will be decisive for its future and form. The "Debates on the Future of Europe" analyses this time the results of the European elections and the day after. Wednesday 12.06.2019 at ESHEM-th, Thessaloniki

Visit the Deepening Democracy page

Publications

Anti-Semitism in Greece Today - Cover 2019

Anti-Semitism in Greece Today (Second Edition)

PUBLICATION

Examining the anti-Semitism phenomenon in Greece in the 21st century is based on the observation that post-Auschwitz anti-Semitism has not been eradicated neither in Greece nor in the rest of Europe, but is instead rising as evidence from recent studies show.

pdf

Energy poverty in Greece 2.0

PUBLICATION

Millions of households in EU countries live in energy poverty.
This phenomenon has adverse effects on both their health and their well-being, while also affecting social cohesion and the environment.
The current publication is an update of the Heinrich Boell Foundation study published in 2017, it includes the impact of the latest political developments in Greece and the rest of Europe, as well as the results of an opinion poll on Greek citizens' awareness of the issue.

pdf

Building Energy Communities

PUBLICATION

Law 4513/2018 aspires to combine Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) and the energy sector and introduces a new type of civil cooperative of exclusive purpose, the Energy Community (EC). ECs constitute an important tool for achieving fair energy transition in the country, since renewable energy and energy savings offer, as well as, require a geographic dispersion of investments and the involvement of the many, in order for the proper exploitation of the former.ECs are confronted with multiple challenges. This guide clarify the framework in which ECs operate, their role in a fair energy transition while providing both theoretical and practical information for their development.

pdf

Visit the Publications page