Empowering Communities: A Co-creation model for addressing odour pollution in Thessaloniki, Greece

Odour pollution, often overlooked but significant, poses challenges to environmental and public health. The issue is particularly complex due to its subjective nature, with individual responses to odours varying widely. The paper aims to develop and validate a collaborative, multi-phase model designed to guide co-designing processes in addressing odour pollution at a local level. The model is thoroughly explained through illustrative examples from a case study in Thessaloniki, Greece, and emphasizes the importance of inclusiveness, coordination, and citizen science in addressing the issue. Following the successful pilot application and validation in Thessaloniki, the paper reflects on implementing the model to support citizen science interventions for odour pollution. Challenges and opportunities for replication are discussed, shedding light on the transformative potential of this co-creation approach.