Sustainability at ACG

An annual tradition that brings the ACG community together in the spirit of giving back. 🧡

On Monday, May 25th, Deree students, staff, and alumni joined forces at Μύλοι Λούλη in Keratsini for the 8th consecutive year, organized by the Office of Sustainability - Public Affairs and supported by the ACG Sustainability Leaders.

Working alongside professional pastry chefs, ACG volunteers prepared and packaged 147 soft cookies, which were donated through Μπορούμε to Social & Educational Action and the Support Center for Children & Family (Κοινωνική & Εκπαιδευτική Δράση & Κέντρο Συμπαράστασης Παιδιών & Οικογένειας). 🍪

This hands-on initiative continues to unite ACG volunteers around a shared purpose: supporting families and children in need while demonstrating the power of collective action.

A heartfelt thank you to Loulis Mills for generously hosting the initiative, providing the ingredients and facilities, and giving our volunteers an amazing tour of their Museum.

And thank you to all the volunteers whose time, energy, and enthusiasm made this year's event another great one!

Because .

See you next year!

🌊 The ocean connects us all, but protecting it requires awareness, collaboration, and action.

This World Oceans Day, June 8th, the Ocean Stewards program brings ocean conservation to the forefront through a special evening on the ACG campus dedicated to sustainability, leadership, and the future of the Blue Economy.

📽️ At the heart of the event is a screening of The Forgotten Pacific, a powerful documentary exploring fragile Pacific ecosystems and the growing impacts of climate change.

The evening will also feature keynote speeches, the official presentation of the Ocean Stewards Collection, and a multi-stakeholder panel bringing together academics, journalists, business leaders, and NGO representatives to discuss the future of our seas and the role we all play in protecting them.

Adding a student-led perspective to the discussion, members of the ACG Sustainability Leaders will participate in the panel as moderators, helping facilitate the dialogue.

The event will be honored by the presence of Ministers of the Greek Government and H.E. the Ambassador of Australia, highlighting the growing importance of collective action for ocean protection.

📅 Monday, June 8, 2026
⏰ 18:00–21:00
📍 ACG Events Hall, Deree – The American College of Greece

Organized by the Office of Sustainability – Public Affairs, The American College of Greece, the Πολιτιστικό Ίδρυμα Χατζηγάκη / Chatzigakis Foundation, and MEPP- Mediterranean Company Environmental Protection, with the support of the ACG Sustainability Leaders.

🎟️ Free and open to the public.
🔗 Click here for more information and to register: https://www.acg.edu/events/ocean-stewards-campus-deep-blue/

Because ACG Cares!

There’s still time to join the sweetest annual ACG Community Service Day at Loulis Mills (Μύλοι Λούλη) happening this Monday, May 25th! 🍪

How will we spend the day?
A hands-on volunteer initiative where students, faculty, staff, and alumni will help prepare and package sweet treats that will be offered to families and children in need through the NGO Boroume (Μπορούμε) to the organizations Social & Educational Action and the Support Center for Children & Family (Κοινωνική & Εκπαιδευτική Δράση & Κέντρο Συμπαράστασης Παιδιών & Οικογένειας).

Since 1997, these organizations have supported large and single-parent families through the provision of essential goods, educational support, counseling services, and social care.

Participants will also have the opportunity to enjoy a guided tour of the Loulis Museum, exploring the history and heritage of one of Greece’s leading food industry companies.

📅 Monday, May 25, 2026
⏰ 09:15–14:30
📍 Loulis Food Ingredients, Keratsini

🚌 Transportation to and from ACG is provided free of charge
❗ Registration is mandatory, and spaces are limited
🔗 https://www.acg.edu/events/acg-community-service-day-lets-bake-for-a-good-cause/

Organized by the Office of Sustainability - Public Affairs and supported by the ACG Sustainability Leaders.

Because ACG Cares 🧡

Today is the International Day for Biological Diversity 🌍

Biodiversity does not involve only the protection of nature.

It supports the systems that make life possible — from climate regulation and food production to clean water, public health, and resilient communities.

Yet ecosystems around the world continue to face increasing pressure from climate change, habitat loss, pollution, and unsustainable human activity.

According to WWF’s Living Planet Index, monitored wildlife populations have declined by an average of 73% globally since 1970; a powerful reminder of how urgently biodiversity protection is needed.

🌱 Because everything in nature is interconnected, the loss of biodiversity ultimately affects us all. When ecosystems weaken, so do the systems we depend on every day.

🐝 World Bee Day reminds us that protecting pollinators means protecting the future of our ecosystems, food systems, and communities.

Across Europe, bee and pollinator populations are declining due to habitat loss, climate change, pesticide use, and unsustainable land practices, making their protection more important than ever.

At ACG, nature is already part of the everyday campus experience!

Situated at the foot of Mount Hymettus, the Aghia Paraskevi campus is surrounded by rich green space that supports local biodiversity and creates important habitats for pollinators. Spaces like the Zen Garden — thoughtfully created and cared for by — further contribute to a greener, more pollinator-friendly environment for our community.

Here are a few simple ways you can help pollinators beyond campus:
🌼 Plant pollinator-friendly flowers
🥾 Avoid picking wildflowers while out in nature
💬 Start conversations and spread awareness about why pollinators matter

Flip through the carousel for more simple ways you can help protect pollinators and support biodiversity!

Join us on Thursday, May 21, for a new session of The Kali Polis Project Global Speakers Series, bringing together leaders working at the intersection of climate action, civic participation, sustainability, and youth engagement within the European context. 🇪🇺

🎤 Among the featured speakers is Rania Assariotaki — Director, Office of Sustainability – Public Affairs, The American College of Greece (Pierce, Deree, Alba) / Vice President, BoD, Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) / EU Climate Pact Ambassador — joining:

▪️ Katerina Eirini Lamprinou — Capacity Building Lead, Demo Act, ELIAMEP
▪️ Dimitris Kollias — EU Climate Pact Ambassador, Energy Transition Strategist & Former Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy

The discussion will explore current European climate initiatives, the role of youth participation in shaping policy and implementation, and key opportunities for the next generation of climate leaders.

📍 Center, 17B Ipitou, Plaka, Athens
⏰ 19:00–20:00 EEST
🌐 Session in English & Greek

Don’t miss this exciting discussion!

Have you registered for the 16th Annual Capital Link Sustainability Forum yet? 🌍

As the Forum approaches, there’s still time to be part of an important conversation on how the public and private sectors can work together to build a more sustainable future.

Under the theme “Public & Private Sector: A Shared Vision for Sustainability”, this year’s Forum will bring together senior government officials, business leaders, and organizations to explore transparency, social cohesion, responsible business practices, and environmental responsibility in today’s rapidly changing global landscape.

As an official supporter of the Forum, ACG invites students, faculty, and staff to engage with the people and ideas shaping real-world sustainability action beyond the classroom.

Open to students, faculty, and staff.

📅 Tuesday, May 26, 2026
📍 Divani Caravel Hotel, Athens

🔗 Register here for free: https://forums.capitallink.com/csr/2026greece/signup-attendee.html

Let’s bake for a good cause! 🍪

The sweetest volunteer initiative of the year is almost here as we prepare for the annual ACG Community Service Day at Loulis Food Ingredients.

ACG students, faculty, staff, and alumni are invited to join a hands-on day of baking and packaging sweet treats that will be distributed through the NGO Boroume to a local charity.

Participants will also have the opportunity to enjoy a guided tour of the Loulis Museum, exploring the history and heritage of one of Greece’s leading food industry companies.

📅 Monday, May 25, 2026
⏰ 09:15 - 14:30
📍 Loulis Food Ingredients, Kerastini

🚌 Transportation to and from ACG is provided free of charge.
❗ Registration is mandatory due to limited capacity: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfeKEtgN745E2Ytgpugs4QNC1TIpa-kNVUyygZccj5tCP8gww/viewform

Organized by the Office of Sustainability - Public Affairs and supported by the ACG Sustainability Leaders, this initiative reflects the spirit of community engagement and giving back actively cultivated at ACG.

Because ACG Cares 🧡

⏰ Final deadline extension!

Did you want to apply for the 2026 Millennium Fellowship Program and missed the deadline?
There’s still time.

Final Deadlines:
🔹 Round 1: May 7, 2026
🔹 Round 2: May 15, 2026 (*upon successful completion and passing of Round 1 for which you’ll be notified via email by MCN)

🎓 If you’re a Deree undergraduate student looking to create real impact and build something meaningful around the SDGs, this is your moment.

The Millennium Fellowship is a semester-long leadership development program organized by the United Nations Academic Impact and the Millennium Campus Network, running from August to December 2026.

As a Fellow, you will:
✨ Strengthen your leadership and project-building skills
🌍 Take action aligned with the SDGs
🏅 Gain recognition as part of a global network of changemakers

We’re still working toward forming the Deree cohort, so every application counts.

👉 Apply here: https://www.millenniumfellows.org/

📩 After applying, email sustainableacg@edu to let us know.

This month’s Sustainability Face looks a little different.

We’re expanding the series to also spotlight groups within the ACG community, celebrating collective efforts as well!

In May, we’re recognizing a group of students and their advisor who are heavily involved in various sustainability activities, such as the Boroume at the Farmers’ Market initiative, powered by ACG.

🌱 Meet the Deree Economics Society!

🎓 On campus, the Deree Economics Society actively brings sustainability into action—participating in initiatives such as beach clean-ups, supporting environmental protection, and raising awareness within the ACG community. Through their involvement, they help connect academic thinking with real-world impact.

🚶‍♀️ Beyond campus, their contribution extends to supporting the Boroume at the Farmers’ Market volunteer activity, reducing food waste, encouraging more sustainable consumption patterns, and strengthening the link between community, economy, and environment.

💡 “Sustainability begins where individual choices become collective outcomes.”

For the Deree Economics Society, this means integrating sustainability into economic dialogue, aiming to demonstrate how markets, policies, and everyday decisions shape long-term environmental and social outcomes.

As a student-led organization, they are committed to fostering responsible behavior and active engagement in sustainability both on campus and beyond!

Every month, we feature members of the ACG community—students, faculty, and staff—who lead by example and bring sustainability into everyday life.

Because 🧡