Appointed Europe's first Chief Heat Officer (2021) and piloted the world's first heatwave categorisation-and-naming system; the role has since been adopted by cities on several continents.
Figures reported by the city programme, verified against published case-study sources.
Background
Athens is one of Europe’s hottest capitals, and heat is a “silent killer” that rarely makes headlines the way storms do. In 2021 the city appointed Eleni Myrivili as Europe’s first Chief Heat Officer, tasked with coordinating a citywide response to extreme heat.
The intervention
- A heat categorisation system ranks heatwaves by threat level — like hurricane categories — using heat, humidity, and health data to forecast danger by neighbourhood
- A pilot to name heatwaves to improve public communication and preparedness
- Restoration of the ancient Hadrian Aqueduct to provide non-potable water for irrigation and cooling, plus expanded tree planting and pocket parks
Results
Athens created a role and a communication model now replicated worldwide — Myrivili was later named a global Chief Heat Officer. The categorisation-and-naming approach reframes heat as a nameable, rankable hazard people can prepare for.
Lessons
Governance innovation — a dedicated officer and clear public risk communication — can be as important as physical infrastructure in reducing heat mortality.
