Kozani, Greece — Public participation in climate policy remains an enduring challenge for cities pursuing ambitious decarbonisation goals. In this context, the Climate Swipe application has emerged as a novel civic engagement tool designed to bridge everyday citizens’ experience with municipal planning processes. Initially developed in Sweden to stimulate dialogue around sustainable lifestyles, the approach has been adapted for use in Kozani under the guidance of the Cluster of Bioeconomy and Environment of Western Macedonia (CLuBE) and within the InteractionSeeds framework.
The Climate Swipe Concept
At its core, Climate Swipe is an online participatory tool that invites residents to respond to simple, interactive prompts about daily life and climate-related decisions. Rather than presenting long surveys, the app uses a sequence of questions that guide users through choices reflecting real-world behaviours and preferences. This approach aims to lower the barrier to engagement and, simultaneously, to yield data that can inform targeted municipal action. The tool has been designed to gather insights on how citizens perceive climate challenges and what support they may require for more sustainable lifestyles.
Users can access the web-based Climate Swipe application as implemented for Kozani through the official city portal, reflecting its alignment with the city’s broader climate neutrality agenda.
Explore the Climate Swipe Appe here (only available in Greek language)
CLuBE’s Role in Implementation
The Greek cluster CLuBE has been instrumental in importing and contextualising the Climate Swipe concept for Kozani. As a non-profit organisation dedicated to environmental innovation and green transition pathways in Western Macedonia, CLuBE coordinates climate action at the intersection of research, community engagement and policy support. Kozani is among the first 100 European cities selected under the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, and CLuBE is closely involved in shaping local climate contracts and citizen inclusion strategies within that mission.
The Climate Swipe tool on the Kozani website is one expression of this effort, providing a direct channel through which residents can articulate concerns, priorities, and ideas relevant to energy, waste, mobility and other domains of city policy. CLuBE’s official site details the organisation’s initiatives and strategic focus on sustainable transition.
Towards Inclusive, Transparent Dialogue
Despite its utility, the Climate Swipe approach also invites reflection on representativeness and impact. Digital engagement tools often attract self-selected audiences, which can skew insights if not complemented by inclusive outreach and offline formats. InteractionSeeds advocates for hybrid engagement pathways where digital and artistic methods are paired with community workshops, exhibitions, and other formats that broaden access and deepen reflection.
Success depends on visible connectivity between participation and policy outcomes. When citizens see how their input shapes urban action plans or resource allocation, trust in both tools and institutions is strengthened. The Climate Swipe deployment in Kozani represents a pragmatic step in that direction. Transparency in how data are used, and how they inform concrete measures, will be essential in maintaining legitimacy and encouraging sustained civic involvement.
Conclusion
In an era where climate urgency intersects with everyday life, Climate Swipe offers a streamlined means for cities and citizens to engage in dialogue. Within InteractionSeeds, the app’s adaptation in Kozani serves as an example of how digital participation can be layered with cultural and creative practice to enlarge the space for public voice in climate transitions. The tool does not replace deliberative processes; rather, it enriches them, offering a replicable blueprint for other municipalities seeking to engage residents in climate action.
