-
.
- Ελληνικά
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to the Presidential Precinct.
About a year ago, here, in this very place, we made a promise, announcing a very ambitious goal.
To turn the Presidential Palace and its surroundings into a zero waste to landfill, that is, a building with zero waste to landfill.
It was an idea that came out of our discussions with the then Commissioner for the Environment and current Minister of Agriculture, Mrs. Maria Panagiotou, because we wanted to make use of all the natural wealth we found in the Presidency, to become a model of respect and protection of the environment. The idea of zero waste, which has never been done before in a government building in Cyprus, excited us.
I don't know then if anyone other than me, Maria and our close colleagues believed that we could really achieve Zero Waste in a building with so many employees who were used to a different daily routine at work. A huge challenge.
The very worrying effects of climate change give us no more room for manoeuvre, and it is not enough for the state alone to promote policy and legislative change. Each of us must change our habits and set a good example ourselves. Let us be the change we want to see, at home, at work, at school.
Targets were set, training was provided, equipment was bought or donated, and despite the initial reservation that accompanies any major change in attitude, we succeeded.
We started with small steps at first. We abolished the purchase of bottled water in plastic bottles, which for years had been provided free of charge to all employees of the Presidency, thus saving a lot of money. Refrigerators were installed and everyone was given reusable canteens. Bins of all kinds of recycling were put in. An environmental corner and the largest composter outside the industrial building was created and important work was done to clean and restore the orchard, the tuluba, enriching it with bee plants to support both the bee population, wild pollinators and the insect population in general in the area. Artificial watering troughs and nests for human birds, small birds and bats were also installed.
The area at the front, but also surrounding the offices of the Presidency, was also upgraded with Cypriot species, flowers, rose bushes, jasmine trees, geraniums, Cypriot herbs, so that the Presidential Office has the scents of our Cyprus. It was found that the main lawn was showing signs of stress and drying and our gardeners together with the Forestry Department managed to restore it with a lot of effort.
Today we are proud because we became the first Zero Waste government building, following the impressive examples of other countries, and our goal to make the Presidency a model of transition to the circular economy and to encourage environmental awareness actions among the population has been achieved.
Cyprus and the Presidency is changing. It is becoming greener, friendlier.
I will also say a few words about our new projects that are underway, which we are working hard on and which make us very optimistic as they will transform this place within the next few years. I will end with our thanks.
Immediate priority is a smart irrigation system that we are looking forward to. Unfortunately the absence of an irrigation system in the Presidency, which was dispersed last year when we started, in this vast 27,000 square metre area prevents the required maintenance and development of all the greenery.
In the 15 months that have passed, in addition to Zero Waste, we put on track the creation of a social smart organic farm in the enclosure of the Presidential Palace through the submission of a proposal to the Interreg Greece-Cyprus cross-border cooperation programme to highlight the endemic plants of Cyprus, the need to save them and inform the public about their importance.
The proposal has succeeded in the first stage and we are in the second stage of evaluation. We hope to have good news soon, securing funding for the project, which amounts to approximately 680 thousand euros. The aim is to upgrade the site and enrich it with modern technologies for the intelligent management of water used for irrigation purposes to ensure maximum savings.
Our garden will include a series of thematic and educational activities, unimpeded access to all areas by people with disabilities, the installation of raised beds to serve our fellow citizens who are confined to wheelchairs and other citizen-friendly services.
A hidden treasure in the centre of Nicosia, with fruit trees that we aspire to turn into a space that can be visited by schools and institutions with experiential educational workshops for growing endemic plants, a herb garden, a farmer's house, an olive press, a playground, a recreation area and many other things that are under planning. A space that will be enjoyed by locals and admired by outsiders.
Already, as you know, we are distributing the fruit from the lemon and orange trees to institutions and schools. In addition, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the Wisdom Foundation for Children, as part of the "Cooking and Giving" program, we provided many boxes of oranges this year and the children enjoyed fresh juice while learning about healthy eating. Our public benefit activities will be continuously enriched with new initiatives and synergies with other voluntary organizations and we will use all the fruits.
At the same time, in cooperation with the new Commissioner for the Environment, the dry hole, about 30 meters long, was repaired to become a point of enrichment for biodiversity.
Dear all,
Small daily changes, only these, vision and effort, will bring the big ones.
Small daily changes, only these, vision and effort, will bring the big ones. Today, the President's Office is a Zero Waste building with plans and actions that are green and beneficial to the community. That is, we have succeeded in reducing our waste by more than 90% and have achieved complete recycling. If we can do it, so can everyone else.
The Administration and all the staff of the Presidency, the Minister of Agriculture Maria Panagiotou and her team, the State Secretary to the President Irene Piki who believes very much in this work, the excellent staff of the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Environment and the Department of Forests, the Environment Commissioner Theodosia Antoniou, the Department of Water and the Press and Information Office have contributed to this and will continue to do so.
A big thank you also to the Presidents of the Recycling Systems, whose help was catalytic in providing Recycling Bins.
We need you by our side.
I also welcome and thank the Beekeepers' Association and the Drogo Farm (Apivita) Company, who took care of the reception and gifts for our guests today.
The biggest thanks go to the Presidential Gardeners and our Caretaker, and our cleaners for their effort and perseverance. And we keep going strong to further beautify the Presidency, to be the positive role model and showcase of our Cyprus. In the most environmentally friendly way possible in a Cyprus that is changing. We are changing it, all of us TOGETHER.
Finally, thanks to all the media representatives who are always willing to cover these actions of ours, highlighting an effort that we are sure will be emulated by others. Your help is invaluable.
Thank you very much.
(PM/MS/NYAN)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
