On December 12, 2025, the final local event took place within the framework of the MedSeaRise – Supporting Adaptation to Sea Level Rise in the Mediterranean project.
Ms. Vasiliki Papadopoulou, General Manager of ANATOLIKI S.A., along with the company’s President, Mr. Sokratis Samaras, welcomed the attendees, among whom were representatives of municipalities, the academic community, and other organizations. It was a particular honor to have with us the Mayor of Kalamaria, Ms. Chrysi Arapoglou, the Deputy Mayor of Kalamaria, Mr. Nikos Misirlis, and the Deputy Mayor of Thermaikos, Mr. Fotios Baxevanis.
Subsequently, Ms. Eleni Iordanidou, a project team member, presented the main objectives of the event, the aims of the project, and the methodology developed throughout its implementation. Following this, Dr. Christos Makris, an external collaborator of ANATOLIKI S.A. from the Democritus University of Thrace, presented in detail the Greek case study focusing on the coastal front of Kalamaria, including the study’s results and the potential impacts arising from possible sea level rise scenarios.
According to the data, the Kalamaria area is generally naturally protected due to the topography of the Thermaikos Gulf from storm surges (SS) based on current mean sea level rise (MSLR) data. However, under extreme scenarios of mean sea level rise by 2055 and 2100, Kalamaria may become one of the most vulnerable urban areas of the Thermaikos Gulf to combined MSLR and SS conditions.
The event concluded with questions directed to the Mayor of Kalamaria, who expressed her admiration for the study’s results and emphasized the importance of integrating them into the Municipality’s comprehensive operational plan, which aims at developing a green marina without overbuilding, as well as a more integrated coastal protection plan. On his part, the Deputy Mayor of Thermaikos highlighted the importance of managing these phenomena according to the administrative division of regions, in line with water districts. Finally, Dr. Giannis Krestenitis, Professor at the Laboratory of Marine Hydraulics and Maritime Works of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), who was invited to comment on the methodology’s results, noted that the combined sea level rise presents additional impacts that should be examined, such as runoff from a network of stormwater systems.
The event was moderated by journalist Nikos Avoukatos.
The MedSeaRise project began in January 2024 and is expected to be completed by March 2026. Its aim is to assess the risks arising from sea level fluctuations, with the goal of enabling effective adaptation to future marine conditions.
For more information, please visit the project website:
🔗 https://medsearise.interreg-euro-med.eu/
