It is indeed with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Presidential Palace for the established event of the Environmental Awards for Green Cities and Organizations and Businesses that promote green sustainable development through their actions.
Actions that contribute greatly to the creation of environmental awareness and the common effort regarding the protection of the environment.
Therefore, before any other mention, I would like to warmly congratulate the Cyprus Centre for Environmental Research and Education of the Holy Metropolis of Limassol, His Eminence the Metropolitan of Limassol for this initiative, which is strongly supported by the Office of the Environment Commissioner and a number of other institutions.
It is worth mentioning that the research and pedagogical team of the Centre, under the guidance of the Scientific Director, Dr. Andreas Hadjichampis, performs a commendable work, which has environmental education, research, information and awareness-raising as its main pillars.
It is sufficiently indicative to note that, among other actions, the Centre coordinates and chairs the European Network for Environmental Citizenship, in which 39 countries and dozens of academic institutions participate.
In order to directly address the environmental challenges that we as a state are called upon to manage, we have set as a priority the formulation and adoption of a coherent and holistic policy.
The focus of this policy was to protect biodiversity, reduce the impact of pollution on public health and ecosystems, rationally manage our natural resources and mitigate the effects of climate change.
By way of example, in the context of the specific measures and strategies we have developed, we have, among other things. I am not saying that we have achieved our goal as our wish. However, significant progress has been made and we are moving forward.
- We have completed and are implementing the National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change and the National Climate and Energy Action Plan, through which we are expected to achieve the relevant targets set by the European Union for Cyprus.
- We are implementing the Strategy for Biodiversity and Education for Sustainable Development.
- We seek to make the best possible use of European financial instruments to promote projects for the sustainability of cities, the promotion of sustainable mobility, the protection of our seas and coasts.
References to the hundreds of millions that will be made available in the coming years through the successful action of the Ministry and the Commissioner have been made by the Commissioner.
Apart from intensifying its actions at the local level, Cyprus is actively participating in the constructive and leading role that the European Union has assumed in addressing international environmental and energy issues.
By way of illustration, I note Cyprus' initiative on the Mediterranean Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development, which was adopted in 2016 in Nicosia, by all Mediterranean countries in Cyprus, and which is being successfully implemented under the Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus. And this is very important for our small country.
I also note the Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus in the United Nations on Education for Sustainable Development, an element of recognition of the active role that Cyprus plays in the relevant issues.
Particularly important is also the initiative that we have undertaken to coordinate the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern States to address the consequences of climate change in our region.
An initiative that is already being implemented with the adoption of the relevant Declaration on 8 November 2022 by the participating States on the margins of the United Nations World Summit on Climate Change COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh.
A Declaration adopting the regional action plan that had been developed and cross-border activities to halt the climate crisis and mitigate its devastating effects. Already, reference has been made by the Commissioner in particular to the sensitivity and how our region is considered a hot spot, one of the most critical places on the planet in terms of the effects of climate change. More than 200 scientists have participated in the whole initiative and actions have been drawn up with specific initiatives to be taken, always taking into account the specificities of each of the Mediterranean and Arab Gulf countries.
What I have mentioned is indicative of the targeted planning adopted by the Government, creating the conditions for addressing contemporary environmental challenges.
To this end, allow me to express my sincere thanks to both the relevant Ministry and the Office of the Environment Commissioner and herself, who are the arm of the state's policy implementation.
To warmly congratulate the Science Centre of the Metropolis of Limassol and Dr Andreas Hadjichampis and to say that on the basis of close cooperation through suggestions, proposals and exchange of best practices, I am confident that Cyprus will continue to be at the forefront and actively contribute as a scientific partner in the promotion of sustainable development at the international level.
In conclusion, I would like to congratulate all the collaborators of these pan-Cypriot environmental awards, especially the Minister, the Commissioner for the Environment, the Science Centre of the Holy Metropolis and the co-organisers who supported the scientific evaluation team of the Awards.
I also congratulate the local authorities, organisations and businesses that participated in the Awards and especially those, and those communities that will be awarded today. Their own environmental policies and projects are recognised as being of paramount importance to our common plans for environmental protection and sustainable development.
(PM/EP)
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