The Coastal Zone of Kalamaria as a Case Study in MedSeaRise: Addressing Sea Level Rise with Local Data and Collaborative Strategies
The Municipality of Kalamaria is a collaborating partner of ANATOLIKI S.A. in the MedSeaRise project and stands out as one of the most prominent coastal areas within the urban complex of Thessaloniki. Despite its rich heritage and privileged natural setting, the area currently faces significant environmental and urban challenges. For this reason, ANATOLIKI S.A. has selected Kalamaria as a case study to contribute to the development of sustainable climate adaptation strategies.
Kalamaria’s coastal zone presents a unique case due to its combination of dense urban fabric, rapid shoreline transformation, and availability of high-resolution geospatial and environmental data—making it an ideal testing ground for integrated climate risk modeling and adaptive spatial planning.
Kalamaria today is characterized as a landlocked city, with limited remaining open spaces and its coastal front as its only remaining outlet. Air pollution, insufficient green space (5.8 m² per resident compared to the WHO’s recommended 8–10 m²), deteriorating public infrastructure, and urban congestion create a pressing need to reclaim and redesign the coastal zone.
In response, ANATOLIKI S.A. is working in close collaboration with the Democritus University of Thrace. Together, they are implementing a series of actions to support the study, including:
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Hazard mapping based on various sea level rise scenarios;
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Collection of local data and assessment of the vulnerability of human systems;
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Participatory processes involving local stakeholders, professionals, and scientists to capture priorities and perceptions.
This interdisciplinary and inclusive methodology aims not only to diagnose the local impacts of sea level rise but also to co-create realistic adaptation strategies that respond to both environmental and socio-economic priorities.
The outputs will feed into local planning frameworks and contribute to MedSeaRise’s broader goal: to strengthen the capacity of Mediterranean coastal territories to anticipate, absorb, and adapt to the climate-induced transformations of their waterfronts.
