The Research Centre for Atmospheric Physics and Climatology of the Academy of Athens (AA) is addressing both global and regional climate changes in different space and time scales. The Centre has established collaborations with many European Research Centres namely University of Giessen–Germany, University of Oslo-Norway, University of Toulouse-France, Research Centre Juelich-Germany, European Research Centre JRC Ispra-Ιtaly, The Cyprus Institute, Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique-Paris, Laboratoire Universitaire des Systemes Atmospheriques-Paris, NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, Chemical Sciences Centre, CO, USA, as well as Universities and Institutions in Greece. The Centre focuses on climate processes at global and local scales through observational analyses from satellite and surface platforms as well as climate modelling studies. The Centre provides expertise not only on future but also on past and present climate variability, trends, extreme events, and their effects on infrastructure on time scales from years to decadal.

An ensemble of model simulations is performed at the Centre under varying scenarios of future greenhouse gas changes in order to facilitate the initialization of analyses related to mitigation and adaptation strategies. Academy of Athens has been the basis for the research of the socioeconomic effects of manmade climate change in Greece during the 21st century (Bank of Greece, http://www.bankofgreece.gr/BogEkdoseis/ClimateChange_FullReport1.pdf), as well as the related Greek legislation (Ministry of Environment and Energy). Finally, scientists have long been working on changes in ozone and climate change as well as on ozone-climate-chemistry interactions. AA is part of the trilateral agreement that has established and operates the Navarino Environmental Observatory (NEO), situated in Messinia, Peloponnese. It is the outcome of cooperation between Stockholm University, the Academy of Athens and TEMES S.A., and it is dedicated to the study of climate change and its impacts on the natural environment and human activities in the Mediterranean. NEO is fast becoming a dynamic hub for modern environmental research, where scientists from all over the world are exchanging knowledge and ideas, while at the same time developing new research tools and methods.

Prof. Christos Zerefos, Head, Research Center for Atmospheric Physics and Climatology, Academy of Athens. President-elect of the General Assembly of the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (2017). Professor of Atmospheric and Environmental Physics at the Universities of Athens, Thessaloniki, Visiting Professor, Universities of Minnesota and Boston. Samarbeidspartnere (Scientific Collaborator), University of Oslo. He has been known for his research in ozone, UV, ozone-climate interactions and climate extreme events. His research led to important contributions to international agreements such as the Montreal Protocol. Member, Academy of Athens, Academia Europaea, Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters, European Academy of Sciences, Russian Academy of Natural Sciences and other distinguished scientific societies. UNESCO Chair Holder on Natural Hazards; Honorary Professor, Physics Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; Honorary Doctorate Degree, Physics Department, University of Patras; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, University division of the American College ANATOLIA, Thessaloniki;Recipient of the UNEP Global Ozone Award, 1997 and a number of distinctions, awards and medals from WMO/UNEP and several scientific societies (e.g. Blaise Pascal Medal, European Academy of Sciences; AGU Kaufman Award; European and Balkan Physics Societies Award; European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage-Europa Nostra Award and others) for his career achievements. In the past 20 years has acted as author, contributor or reviewer in almost all WMO/UNEP Scientific Assessments of Ozone Depletion and reviewer in IPCC Aviation and extreme events reports (1998 and 2013). Award Certificate and Letter from UNEP and IPCC for substantial contribution to the reports of IPCC, which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with the former Vice President of USA, Al Gore (December 2007). Has supervised 30 PhD and 50 MSc and has created from zero (1) The Research Centre for Atmospheric Physics and Climatology, Academy of Athens (1978) (2) The Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (1981) (3) The WMO Northern Hemisphere Ozone Mapping Centre (1991) (4) The Graduate Programme on Environmental Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (1991) (5) The Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens (2003) (6) The UNESCO Chair on Natural Hazards in the Geosphere, the Hydrosphere and the Atmosphere (2007) (7) The Geoastrophysics Museum, National Observatory of Athens (2008) (8) The Navarino Environmental Observatory