With a resounding message in favor of sustainability and environmental education, this year’s General Assembly of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) began in Crete, with the participation of representatives from 65 countries. This year’s event, hosted at the “Mikis Theodorakis” conference center in Hersonissos from May 28 to 30, was accompanied by the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (ESP) and the Region of Crete.
This move marks the accession of Crete to UNESCO’s global Greening Education Partnership (GEP), making it the first region in the country to officially participate in this initiative. As the Governor of Crete, Stavros Arnaoutakis, emphasized, “our accession is a milestone for a new era in education and sustainability.”
International recognition and Greek leadership in FEE
This year’s Assembly takes on particular significance not only because of its location, but also because, for the first time in FEE’s history, a Greek is assuming the presidency of the Organization. Nikos Petrou, President of FEE, succeeds Lesley Jones at the helm of an organization with a global reach, which has more than 83 member countries and leads international programs such as the “Blue Flag” and the “Green Key.”
The Assembly will feature top FEE executives, including CEO Daniel Schaffer, Director of Educational Programs Pramod Kumar Sharma, as well as flagship program leaders such as Johann Durand and Finn Bolding Thomsen.
The main topics of this year’s event include critical global challenges such as integrating artificial intelligence into education, sustainability in tourism, youth empowerment and deepening international partnerships.
Sustainability in tourism in focus
In addition to environmental education, the Assembly highlights the pivotal role of tourism in the green transition, especially in island regions such as Crete. Representatives from leading tourism and hotel operators in the country were present and expressed their intention to strengthen cooperation with environmental organizations.
Andreas Metaxas, CEO of Metaxa Hospitality Group, underlined the Group’s long-standing commitment to sustainability, saying that “we systematically invest in environmental education, with the aim of increasing our positive footprint”. For his part, the President of PODIX, Giorgos Pelecanakis, stated that “environmental awareness is the result of collaboration between scientists, educators, professionals and society”.
Alexandros Somaras, from the Crete Hoteliers Association, stressed the importance of tools such as the “Green Key”, while Notis Soulias, representing Avra Tours, highlighted the company’s strategic goal of a fully net-zero tourism portfolio.
Finally, Panos Almyrantis, President of the European Hotel Managers Association, pointed out that “enhancing environmental awareness contributes to the strengthening of local destinations and sustainable tourism development”.
Strong local support and international exposure
The success of the event, as the organizers emphasize, is based on the cooperation and contribution of local bodies and businesses, such as the Region of Crete, the Municipality of Hersonissos, Metaxa Hospitality Group, Avra Tours S.A., as well as the hospitality groups MITSIS GROUP, GOLDEN Hotels, Nana Hotels and the Cretan Hospitality Association. The official air transport was provided by Aegean Airlines.
Hosting the FEE General Assembly from Crete is not only a recognition of the local commitment to sustainability, but also a strategic positioning of Greece at the center of the international discussion on environmental education. With the EEPF leading the way and Crete hosting a high-level event, our country is strengthening its footprint in the global dialogue on the future of the planet.
From left: Nikos Petrou, Lesley Jones (outgoing President of FEE), Charalambos Foskolakis (Heraklion Hoteliers Association), Stavros Arnaoutakis, Georgios Pelecanakis (President of PODIX), Notis Soulias (Avra Tours)
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