Understanding climate resilience: Insights from REGILIENCE Citizen Survey in Central Macedonia

In 2024, REGILIENCE conducted a citizen survey to better understand public awareness of climate risks and adaptation needs. Our initial assessment focused on Central Macedonia, Greece, a region facing persistent flooding, transport infrastructure challenges, and high energy consumption.

Initial findings (2024)

• Citizens were familiar with sustainability concepts, but awareness of climate resilience remained limited.

• Top climate concerns included heatwaves, rising temperatures, and droughts.

• Urgent adaptation measures identified: water management and sustainable consumption.

• Women and younger individuals expressed greater concern about climate change impacts.

• Social media, the internet, and TV served as primary sources of climate information.

Updated insights (2025 follow-up)

Building on these insights, a second citizen survey was conducted in 2025 in the same region to track trends and deepen our understanding. Key shifts emerged from this follow-up assessment:

• Sustainability awareness dropped: awareness of sustainability concepts decreased significantly across the region.

• Resilience awareness improved: climate resilience awareness slightly improved, suggesting targeted efforts may be effective.

• High concern persists: overall concern about climate change remains high, though with a slightly reduced sense of urgency compared to the first batch.

• Demographic gaps maintained: awareness gaps persist, notably among older adults and less-educated groups.

• Personal experience: strong agreement remains with the statement: “I already experience the impact of climate change.”

These two waves of data are vital for developing effective, community-driven adaptation strategies that reflect the real concerns and evolving understanding of the local population.

Discover the full findings and detailed infographics below.