On 29 May 2025, Professor Dr. Phoebe Koundouri participated in a pivotal session titled “Highlighting Environmental, Social and Economic Impacts of Natural Catastrophes” at the NatCat Summit, held at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre.
In her address, Professor Koundouri delivered profound insights into the complex and interconnected challenges posed by climate change, highlighting the urgent need for integrated, strategic approaches to resilience. She emphasised the essential role of the academic community in understanding and responding to the growing global threat of natural disasters.
Drawing on economic theory, she explored how informed decision-making at the intersection of environment, economy, and society can guide effective action. She presented key initiatives from the Global Climate Hub, underscoring the importance of identifying an optimal global financial mix to tackle the climate crisis. Professor Koundouri advocated for significantly increased investment in research and innovation, alongside stronger incentives for private sector engagement. She also pointed to the existing fiscal capacity in the US, Europe, and other developed regions to drive these necessary advancements.
Looking ahead to the upcoming International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Professor Koundouri noted that the Global Climate Hub will unveil actionable pathways and solutions to foster interdisciplinary collaboration — critical to addressing climate challenges, mitigating systemic risks, and harnessing emerging opportunities.
The session brought together a distinguished panel, including Theodora Antonakaki, Director of the Bank of Greece’s Climate Change & Sustainability Center, and Reinhard Mechler, Principal Research Scholar and Group Leader at IIASA’s Systemic Risk and Resilience (SYRR) program. The discussion was moderated by Evgenia Tzortzi, journalist at Kathimerini.
The NatCat Summit, organised by Moneyreview.gr, the financial platform of Kathimerini, is a premier event bringing together experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore critical issues around natural catastrophes, risk management, and resilience building.
