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Contemporary urban environmental management calls for dissemination of environmental information among the public. This can be achieved by using a simple, while at the same time efficient, environmental management system platform, that integrates the monitoring and modelling of environmental data. The use of such a platform enables the urban planner and the environment‐related decision maker to have direct access to the relevant monitoring data, while a library of environmental management scenarios is developed and can be enriched. This article discusses the results of the IRENIE Environmental Telematics project in Athens, Greece, including the Web‐based geographical information system and its configuration. This specific project involves the application possibilities mentioned above, while integrating environmental monitoring, modelling and mapping over the Internet. The results discussed here demonstrate a significant increase in the capabilities of relevant authorities to advance their environmental management potential and to better inform the sensitive members of the public on potential health hazards.

The purpose of this study is to put forward a methodological framework to provide a comparative assessment of available mitigation and adaptation strategies against climate change. Mitigation options aim at minimizing CO₂ and other greenhouse gas emissions, in an effort to reduce the rate of increase in global temperature. On the other hand, adaptation options relate to the ability of the natural or human systems to handle the impact of the climate change and to adjust to its effects, seeking to eliminate the adverse consequences and take advantage of any beneficial outcomes.

The methodology focuses on specific parameters, leading to the most efficient package of alternatives for the area of Greece. The selection of the “optimal” ranking of alternatives in a defined strategy is a sophisticated procedure, and a multi-criteria decision-making process was established. A questionnaire was designed and used as input to the overall framework, based on specific decision criteria. Climate change experts gave their feedback via a face-to-face interview. ELECTRE III multi-criteria decision analysis was adopted for the comparative evaluation, as it fits best to complex environmental problems. An “optimal” sequence of mitigation and adaptation strategies was provided for Greece.

The use of renewable energy sources, increase of energy efficiency and improved forest management – tree planting and rational water management – are among the most promising options to strategically plan climate change mitigation and adaptation for Greece.

The presented study provides an insight into alternative mitigation and adaptation strategies against climate change. The use of the multi-criteria analysis is an innovative approach to outline the optimal bundle of strategies. The methodology focuses on specific parameters, leading to the most efficient package of measures for the area of Greece. Such an approach is implemented for the first time in Greece, at least up to the authors’ knowledge, and provides a basis for strategic governance and policy modeling for the area under consideration.