It is with great pleasure that I welcome in Cyprus the participants of the pioneering action "Running out of time", an excellent international initiative that aims to raise public awareness about the impacts of climate change. It is a giant and non-stop relay, which started on 30 September 2022 from Glasgow, the city that hosted the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26 in 2021, and will finish on 6 November 2022 in Siarm El Sheikh, the city that will host this year's COP27.
Thousands of runners, cyclists and sailors from around the world are taking part in the relay to achieve an epic record 7,767 kilometres from Scotland to Egypt without stopping, and to deliver a powerful message to world leaders ahead of COP27. In their message, the participants of the event are urging leaders to take drastic action to provide young people with the necessary skills, education and resources to enable them to become key players in the quest for a sustainable planet.
Congratulations are therefore due to the initiators of this action, and of course to all the participating relay runners. Congratulations are also due to the autonomous and non-profit Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Foundation CYMEPA, both for its participation in the "Running out of time" action and the organisation of today's special event, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of its foundation, and for its significant contribution to the environmental events of our country.
Friends,
Climate change and its impact on our planet is now one of the most important issues of our time. Tackling climate change is a fight we can still win if we act quickly and consistently to raise the level of our ambition and accelerate action to implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. On the basis of this Agreement, the European Union and its Member States have submitted a nationally determined contribution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 through the Fit-for-55 legislative package. We urge our partners across the globe to do the same, i.e. to scale up their contribution to the international effort to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
In the urgency of the call to action, Cyprus, which is already witnessing the severe negative impacts of climate change, has adopted a National Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan.
At the same time, taking advantage of its geostrategic position and its excellent relations with almost all countries in the region, our country has taken urgent action to address climate change at the regional level. Our initiative aims to develop a regional action plan consisting of appropriate policies and measures to address the region's specific challenges related to climate change. To this end, the President of the Republic invited the leaders of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East countries to jointly address regional issues related to climate change through a specific policy statement related to the regional action plan. This statement is expected to be adopted at the Leaders' Meeting of the participating countries, which will take place on the margins of COP27 on 8 November 2022.
Our vision is for our region to look to the future with optimism and to use the climate challenge as an opportunity to proudly show the world what our peoples can achieve when they work together. I am sure you will agree with me that the time has come to act, together, to protect our planet from climate change, and to jointly address all global environmental challenges.
In conclusion, and after again extending my warm congratulations and thanks to all of you, I wish you all the best for the remaining journey to complete the relay. Have a safe journey and goodbye at the important crossroads towards climate neutrality, at the crossroads of Siarm el-Sieich.
Thank you.
(EP/EHR)
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