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ICOMOS
I welcome a familiar place with familiar people and colleagues. My appointment as Commissioner for the Environment was as sudden for you as it was for me.
Remaining in the position of Council Vice-President, at least until the next elections, I will continue to contribute to the activities of ICOMOS and, at the same time, aim to integrate its themes into the activities and campaigns of the Office of the Commissioner for the Environment.
I will continue to contribute to the activities of ICOMOS and, at the same time, aim to integrate its themes into the activities and campaigns of the Office of the Commissioner for the Environment.
As part of its mission, the Office of the Commissioner:
-Submits recommendations to Ministries/Secretaries of State on issues related to the environment and the implementation of relevant policy and legislation, either at the request of the above or on its own initiative. It is also invited to submit opinions in relation to important proposals for the implementation of relevant laws or for the adoption of new laws for the protection of the environment, or to advise the Council of Ministers and/or any Minister/Secretary of State on matters within its competence, as well as the relevant Parliamentary Committee or the plenary session of the House of Representatives.
-Monitor and collect data, prepare reports and statistics. Records the annual environmental situation and submits an annual report to the Council of Ministers with its observations and recommendations on the environmental policy of the State.
I mention the above as a sample of the capabilities and tools of the Office of the Commissioner for the Environment and which I will seek, to the best of my ability, to utilize. In this new course I look forward to having ICOMOS Cyprus as my companion and partner.
In his speech on the annual Governance Planning for 2024, the President of the Republic referred to certain pillars and policies related to the environment, such as green taxation, green transition and the implementation of the institution of the "Green Community", aiming, within 2024, communities and/or clusters of communities, with the contribution of the state, to become not only energy independent but also to serve other environmental objectives.
The above announcements are of course part of the Green Transition and the implementation of Europe's development strategy through the European Green Deal. This Agreement is a consequence of climate change and environmental degradation which threaten the existence of the world.
The implementation of the Green Community is also at the heart of my strategy as Commissioner for the Environment to create "Climate Neutral Communities". I will seek to contribute to the maximum extent possible to the Office of the Commissioner, through programmes and in cooperation with Agencies and Institutions, to the design of the necessary procedures in the central and local administrations to be created in the context of the reform of local government, and to the creation of the coordination structures required for the implementation of green policies.
In conclusion, I would like to mention that the Office of the Environment Commissioner has already initiated actions in the field of implementation of the Aarhus Convention, Convention Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention will be in Cyprus next week for information, awareness raising and capacity building purposes in Cypriot society.
The Office of the Commissioner, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, the Department of Environment and the Cyprus Federation of Environmental Organisations, are organising one-to-one contacts on 6 and 7 February 2024 with the Special Rapporteur, in which ICOMOS will participate, as well as an Information Conference to be held on 8 February 2024.
I would like to stress that your participation and presence in these meetings is very important, since the role of all of us is directly or indirectly related to environmental issues, which of course also touch on cultural issues. The ultimate goal, both for me personally and for the Environment Commissioner's Office, is to strengthen and create synergies between the competent authorities, the judiciary, the academic community, NGOs/Initiatives/groups/organisations and civil society, always for the benefit of the environment and for the well-being of society.
Good luck in the work of the General Assembly and I look forward with great interest to the following lecture by our dear Andreas Georgiades.
Thank you.
(ASP)
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