Affiliation:
1. National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
2. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
3. Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Abstract
The chapter aimed to investigate a) whether the Regional Unit of Western Attica-Greece is a robust and smart region in terms of sustainable development policies (studying also its dimensions, i.e., environmental, cultural, economic, and social development) based on its citizens' perspectives and b) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these policies implemented. A specially designed questionnaire was used in a sample of 175 inhabitants in the five Municipalities of the Regional Unit of Western Attica and the findings were studied applying appropriate descriptive and statistical methods. The findings showed that citizens in all Municipalities of the Regional Unit of Western Attica have a generally moderate level of awareness regarding sustainable development, with Municipality of Phyli outperforming the rest of them. Furthermore, it was evidenced that the COVID-19 pandemic had a major influence on the effectiveness of sustainable development policies put in place in all municipalities of the Regional Unit of Western Attica