Exploring the True Meaning of
Our Habitat

Learn, discover, and connect around the Hearth

habitat

/ˈhabɪtat/

noun  ·  the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.

At the heart of Hearth Summit Athens is a vision: a vision of people living in cities and urban environments in harmony with our natural habitat, in comfort, safety, and happiness. Where all people feel secure in their basic comforts and can use their creative energies to support the flourishing of all life on this planet. Where we thrive in a restored, and vibrant natural environment by giving back as much as we receive. We seek a voice in our collective destiny, finding belonging, meaning, and purpose through genuine connection to the people and planet that sustain us.

You’re invited to this Hearth of innovation: we seek allies to imagine, design, and create an economy where the rules, norms, and incentives are inherently set up to deliver the quality of life and flourishing for all people, in harmony with our environment. This vision prioritizes the wellbeing of both people and the planet, embodied through Environmental Sustainability, Social Wellbeing, and Economic Equity, in three key habitats:

The natural habitat

What are the teachings from nature that offer to us as a compass for harmonious living with ourselves and our surroundings? How can nature grow inside an urban area? How can we integrate biophilic design principles in urban spaces to enhance human wellbeing and connection to nature?

The living habitat

What are the criteria for a wellbeing city? What does it offer to its residents? How do we move? How are the buildings constructed? How do we weave communities and cultivate the uniqueness of each place? How can we repopulate and regenerate urban areas in the periphery?

The economic habitat

What does growth mean? What are the criteria for a harmonic and inclusive form? How do we ensure equity in mega-cities? How do we fight energy poverty? How do we promote green and qualitative jobs for all?

Hearth Summit Athens will explore key topics including:

Climate justice

Equity in cities

Decentralization and repopulation

Sustainable consumption

Wellbeing economy vs impact economy

Ecological Belonging and nature-based learning

Cultivating vibrant communities

Climate resilience and extreme weather

Climate and mental health

Sustainable tourism

By the end of the event, the community aims to have gathered important input to pass on to the Greek representatives, key stakeholders and politicians in COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Arts and Experiences

Hearth Summit Athens will also offer changemakers a space to experience wellbeing in all of its forms. Drawing on old practices that capture and spring from the power of nature, the participants will explore and experience traditions from civilizations from Greece. The content will be enriched with an artistic track that will help changemakers to decompress, reflect and re-connect. With the artistic environment, changemakers are invited to join difficult conversations with the guidance of contemporary artists, helping them to embrace topics from a sentimental perspective through performances and art installations.

Additionally, a series of satellite events outside and around Athens will offer different stimuli and deep diving into the context in Greece as an example for the cultivation of wellbeing cities.

Stay tuned for more details!

HOSTED BY

Impact Hub Athens

Co-Created With

Act in Synch and Eteron Institute

With special thanks to these generous community, content, experience, and media partners:

24media, Aegean Film Foundation, Astylab, Bioagros, Bizrupt, Catalyst 2030, Danone, Electra Energy, ETAP – The Peloponnese and Ionian Islands Development Company, Greek Women of Wine, Innovation Unit – Technology transfer and Entrepreneurship Centre, University of Thessaly, Lighthub, Ministry of Culture, MIT Media Lab, Municipality of Egalo, Mythos, NATIVA, National Centre For Scientific Research Demokritos, The High Mountains, Southern Lights, The Sporos Platform, Stelios Foundation, Symbiosis, and The Wellbeing Project