By: IASIS
In Greece, climate change is not only a scientific or environmental issue, it is a lived reality. In recent years, the country has experienced increasingly frequent wildfires, heatwaves, floods, and extreme weather events. These developments shape how climate change is discussed in public life and how people respond to it, both emotionally and politically. Within this context, the NEUROCLIMA pilots implemented by IASIS aim to explore how different groups—those who communicate climate information and those who learn, teach, or experience it—can engage with climate knowledge in more reflective and constructive ways.
The Greek pilots bring together two complementary audiences. The first pilot engages journalists and policymakers, recognising their key role in shaping public understanding and institutional responses to climate change. The second pilot focuses on educators, students, and citizens, exploring how climate knowledge can be integrated into learning environments and everyday social conversations.
Both pilots revolve around the use of the NeuroClima Hub, a digital platform designed to support climate understanding through curated scientific knowledge, behavioural insights, and tools that encourage reflection on how climate information is communicated and interpreted.
Why these pilots are particularly relevant in Greece
Greece is a meaningful setting for these pilots because climate change is highly visible there. Media coverage is frequent and often emotional, and policymakers must balance environmental, economic, and social concerns. Climate info can be hard for the public to understand; scientific data may seem complex or distant, while media may oversimplify or focus on dramatic events. This highlights a need for approaches that link science, social understanding, and emotional awareness. The NEUROCLIMA pilots address this by testing how digital tools and structured learning can help groups interpret climate information accurately, accessibly, and meaningfully.
What makes the Greek pilots unique
Greek pilots uniquely focus on the intersection of communication, behavior, and learning. In the first pilot, journalists and policymakers examine how climate info moves from science to media and public decision-making. Journalists and content creators reflect on storytelling’s impact on audience engagement and climate risk perception. Policymakers consider how behavioral insights and attitudes influence policy acceptance.
The second pilot emphasizes education and community engagement, encouraging dialogue on climate in relatable ways that connect to daily life, emotions, and social responsibilities. The NeuroClima Hub serves as both a source of information and a space for reflection, helping participants relate climate issues to their personal and professional lives.
As the pilots begin, one of the most exciting aspects is the opportunity to create dialogue between people who normally engage with climate issues from very different perspectives.
Journalists, policymakers, educators, students, and citizens rarely share the same learning spaces. Yet each group plays an important role in shaping how climate knowledge circulates in society. Bringing these perspectives together allows participants to explore questions that extend beyond disciplinary boundaries.
How can climate stories be communicated in ways that inform without overwhelming audiences?
How can educational spaces encourage meaningful engagement with environmental challenges?
And how can public conversations about climate change become more constructive and inclusive?
These are some of the questions the pilots hope to explore.
One example of an activity planned within the pilots is a guided exploration session using the NeuroClima Hub.
Participants will navigate selected resources related to climate knowledge, communication strategies, and behavioural insights. Journalists may use these materials to develop or adapt a piece of climate-related content—such as an article, podcast segment, or digital story—while reflecting on how narrative framing influences audience understanding.
At the same time, educators and students participating in the second pilot will engage in discussions about how climate information can be integrated into learning activities or community conversations. These sessions encourage participants to connect climate knowledge with real-life experiences and social contexts.
Through these activities, the pilots aim to better understand how digital tools can support meaningful engagement with climate topics across different sectors of society.
Looking ahead
Ultimately, the Greek NEUROCLIMA pilots are about more than testing a platform. They are about exploring how climate knowledge travels across society—from research to media, from education to policy, and from institutions to everyday conversations.
Climate change is not only about data and evidence. It is also about how people understand the issue, how they talk about it, and how they feel about it. Creating spaces where knowledge, communication, and reflection meet is essential for building meaningful climate engagement.
By bringing together communicators, decision-makers, educators, and citizens, the Greek pilots aim to contribute to a broader dialogue on how climate information can support more informed, thoughtful, and collaborative responses to the environmental challenges ahead.
