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It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to today's workshop co-organised by the Office of the Environment Commissioner and the Cyprus Network for Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility-CSR Cyprus on "How to measure and reduce the environmental footprint of my business".
First of all, let me thank the Municipality of Paralimni and the Mayor of Paralimni Mr. Theodoros Pyrilli for the support provided to us in the organization of the workshop and for the hospitality in the Municipality's event hall. At the same time, I would like to thank the speakers of the workshop for the presentations that will follow and all the participants for your presence here today.
Today's workshop, on reducing the carbon footprint of SMEs, is the third in a series of green skills development workshops for SMEs organised by our Office in collaboration with CSR Cyprus, with the aim of promoting green skills. At this point, I would like to thank Dr. Marinos Voukis and CSR Cyprus for the excellent cooperation with the Office and my predecessor and current Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Dr. Maria Panayiotou and assure you that I look forward to continuing this cooperation to complete our joint initiative and effort, but also to strengthen it by enriching it thematically in the context of new activities.
Our aim, through these workshops, is to prepare businesses to be able to respond to the new framework that is emerging through the European Green Deal. Today's workshop gives businesses the right tools to measure and reduce their carbon footprint. At the same time, it is a practical demonstration of our Office's commitment, as part of its mission, to promote sustainability in business and contribute to achieving the national targets set on the basis of the European Green Deal and the "Fit for 55" interim legislative package. "Fit for 55" refers to the EU target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, which is not far away.
Reducing the carbon footprint, beyond its ethical dimension, is a practical and strategic imperative for business. Through it, businesses ensure their environmental governance by actively participating in the protection and preservation of the environment. They also ensure legal compliance with the ambitious zero-emission targets set by the EU. This compliance enhances business access to markets that emphasise sustainability. At the same time, the adoption of sustainable practices usually leads to increased energy efficiency, reduced energy bills and waste management leading to savings for businesses. Finally, at a time when consumers are increasingly making choices based on ethical and environmental criteria, businesses that demonstrate environmental responsibility are more likely to attract customers and investors.
This is why we look forward with great interest to today's presentations on the financing tools available to businesses, the methodology for measuring the environmental footprint and the greenhouse gas index, and the presentations of best practices in corporate social responsibility.
