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The planet today faces unprecedented challenges due to multiple global crises - climate crisis, plummeting biodiversity loss, air and land pollution.
The need to find ways to address the above is imperative in order to lead to a sustainable future perspective, which is the content of today's event.
The concept of sustainability is attributed to activities and development choices that do not deplete natural resources, and that create favourable environmentally friendly conditions in the medium and long term, provided that the development of the productive structures of the economy takes place in parallel with the infrastructure for the protection of the natural environment.
The implementation of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as the Principles for a Circular Economy, covering issues such as poverty, gender equality, health, education, good governance, migration, climate change and environmental protection, plays an essential role in achieving sustainable development.
In recent years, more and more companies have put environmental and social responsibility at the heart of their planning and more and more companies are using the above objectives as an integral part of their competitiveness and strategy. It has been recognised that responsible business operations enhance sustainable economic growth, secure new markets, create long-term value for shareholders, employees, partners, customers, and build trust over time.
The challenges, particularly for business, require a transition to an economy with an initially low and then zero carbon footprint, minimising waste and maximising resource efficiency in an effort to mitigate adverse impacts on the environment and the environment.
The challenges, particularly for business, require a transition to an economy with an initially low and then zero carbon footprint, minimising waste and maximising resource efficiency in an effort to mitigate adverse impacts on the environment. In doing so, businesses can play a key role in this transition through a sharp increase in the use of renewable energy sources, the decarbonisation of fossil fuels, the optimisation of transport methods and the application of energy-efficient technologies. However, the carbon footprint is not only about greenhouse gas emissions but also about consumption. Sustainable supply practices, managing and minimising waste generation and environmentally friendly production processes are equally important aspects of reducing the overall environmental footprint of a business until it becomes climate neutral.
However, achieving sustainability requires a shift towards circular and efficient operations. The linear make-use-drop model is no longer sustainable in a world of finite resources. Instead, we need to embrace circularity, to maximise the utility and longevity of products based on circular economy principles, where products and materials are reused, recycled, remanufactured, reused to make new products. This not only preserves resources, but also reduces economic and environmental costs.
At European level and in our country, important environmental policies have already been adopted, but they are not exhausted, and there is a need to combine actions to the maximum extent for their effective implementation.
In the framework of the National Energy and Climate Plan and the policies for the green transition and environmental protection, a priority in President Christodoulides' governance programme is the implementation of the Green Transition Plan. This will enable businesses to contribute to the implementation of additional measures from existing policies and thus to the achievement of the national target of reducing GHG emissions by 23% by 2030.
Among other things, incentives are given in the form of grants and projects to encourage the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), the strengthening of the circular economy, energy upgrading and competitiveness, which will be described and presented in more detail below.
In conclusion, I would like to stress that we must immediately reconcile the concepts of 'environment' and 'development' in the context of sustainability, which includes equally and in parallel the economy, society, the protection and management of the environment and human life.
In the same context of promoting good practices and responsible entrepreneurship, the Co-operative Societies Service, as the competent authority, among others, for the promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Cyprus, is currently organising free information/training workshops for businesses regarding good sustainability practices, certification information after the adoption of the national standard and for registration in the State CSR Register.
The workshops are held under the auspices of the Environment Commissioner's Office in all cities, with the first one in Nicosia having concluded yesterday - 13/03/24 - with a large turnout of business stakeholders, which is very promising. 4 more workshops will follow in the other cities, Those businesses that register in the CSR 2024 State Register by the end of May will be awarded at an event to be organised.
I congratulate ideopsis Ltd for organizing the event and wish them good luck in their work.
(ASP)
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Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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