Climate change and Overtourism as Topics of the ACA-Europe Seminar in Athens

The Vice-President of the Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak republic Marián Trenčan participated on 10-11 November 2025 in a seminar held under the leadership of the Greek Presidency of ACA-Europe in Athens. The event, entitled “Climate Change/ Climate Crisis – Overtourism”, focused on the possibilities of judicial enforcement of obligations undertaken by European states under the so-called Paris Agreement on climate change from 2015, including the implementation of measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating other adverse consequences of climate change that affect EU Member States both externally and internally.

In addition to challenges related to the climate crisis the participants addressed the harmful effects of overtourism in popular EU destinations and the possibilities of mitigating its impacts also through administrative judiciary.

In the individual panels, the speakers examined the international European and national dimensions of the given topics.

Vice-President of the Supreme Administrative Court Marián Trenčan in a seminar of ACA-Europe in Athens. Photo © ACA-Europe.

„Administrative Courts in Slovakia have not yet adjudicated so-called climate litigation in which individuals or groups seek judicial orders compelling the state to adopt specific measures aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change. However, the experience of partner Supreme Administrative Courts from EU Member States is extremely valuable to us. The consequences of climate change affect all of us, regardless of where on the planet we live. As for the impacts of tourism in Slovakia, these are currently not perceived as harmful and according to our findings tourism in protected natural areas is manageable when accompanied by enhanced conservation measures,” assessed the Vice-President Marián Trenčan.