Columbia Climate School in Greece: A Two-Week Immersive Experience on Energy Transition
In May 2026, the Columbia Climate School and the University of Western Macedonia (UoWM), in partnership with Columbia Global Center Athens, launched their inaugural joint Summer School in Greece. The two-week program brought together 10 graduate students from the Climate School, alongside faculty, for an immersive, place-based exploration of the energy transition in Greece.
Combining academic instruction, field visits, and high-level engagement with policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers, the program offered a unique opportunity to examine one of Europe’s most important energy transitions in real time.
Week 1: Kozani – A Living Laboratory of Transition
The first week took place in Kozani, in the region of Western Macedonia — historically Greece’s energy heartland and now at the forefront of its transition away from lignite.
Students engaged in an intensive academic program led by UoWM faculty, exploring key themes such as climate change, energy justice, governance, and the socioeconomic transformation of post-lignite regions. Through interdisciplinary lectures, participants examined how sustainable and diversified energy systems can be designed to ensure resilience, affordability, and inclusivity.
Field visits complemented classroom learning, offering first-hand exposure to critical energy infrastructure and innovation in practice. Highlights included visits to the Vasileiada photovoltaic power plant, the Ilarion hydropower facility, DIADYMA’s integrated waste management systems, and CERTH’s Green Innovation Hub. Together, these experiences positioned Western Macedonia as a dynamic “living laboratory” of energy transition, innovation, and regional transformation.
Week 2: Athens – From Learning to Policy and Practice
In the second week, the program moved to Athens, where students participated in the international conference “The Evolving Climate and Energy Landscape in Greece.” The conference brought together more than 150 participants, including policymakers, academics, industry leaders, and civil society representatives from Europe and the U.S.
As part of the Young Researchers’ Session, students presented their field-based research and insights developed during their time in Kozani, contributing directly to ongoing policy and industry discussions.
The Athens program also included a series of high-level visits and engagements, including meetings with executives from the Public Power Corporation, discussions on climate communication with Kathimerini, and briefings with the Boston Consulting Group. Students also explored environmental stewardship through a field visit to Mt. Hymettus.
A Transformative Experience
This two-week program highlighted the value of place-based, interdisciplinary, and international education. By connecting academic knowledge with real-world applications, and local realities with global challenges, the Summer School fostered critical thinking, collaboration, and meaningful dialogue on the future of energy transition.
The program was made possible through the generous support of the Public Power Corporation, Greece’s leading electricity producer and supplier.