PREFIGURE Coordinator Michael Janoschka kicked off the Panel Discussion “Housing in Times of Climate Change – Challenges and Opportunities” comparing the Greek and German systems. The discussion focused on identifying current and future governance mechanisms to ensure both efficient and unbureaucratic building renovation and a fair distribution of the costs involved.

During last Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, Germany featured as the official guest country, with over 120 companies involved. This proved the ideal platform for the Institute for Regional Science (IfR) and a delegation from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) to present the EU-funded project PREFIGURE. Greek and German experts from academia and politics discussed the main trends and social challenges in housing policies of both countries.

In his introductory speech, Professor Janoschka underscored the pressing issue of equitable distribution of housing for all in the context of climate change, and the imperative for sustainable urban redevelopment – two core themes of the EU-funded project PREFIGURE.

He examined the challenges – for Germany, and Central Europe in general – of housing affordability, investments in the energy-efficient improvement of existing buildings, and rising social polarisation and socio-spatial contrasts. Mr Bartol, from the German Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building, then delved into possible solutions being developed by their government to address these issues.

Janoschka tried to highlight the commonalities between the challenges faced by Germany and Greece. While Germany is currently mainly concerned with heating and insulation of buildings, for example, solutions adopted in Greece towards a comprehensive rethink of cooling systems could prove vital to all in the future – he remarked.

“The future of urban coexistence will be shaped by the way urban redevelopment towards climate neutrality is designed. This raise the question of how we aspire to live in the future, which is pivotal for social cohesion”.

Ph by Laura Bosch (KIT)