Honourable Ministers,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to today's "Ministerial Meeting on the Climate Change Initiative in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East", organized and hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The participation today of so many renowned scientists and distinguished policy makers from our neighbouring region is a testament not only to the magnitude of the threat posed by the climate crisis, but also to our readiness to coordinate synergies and exchange best practices.
A region identified as a "hot spot", with our countries vulnerable to the climate crisis, already experiencing its devastating effects on agriculture, public health, tourism, ecosystem development and water supply, thus disrupting our economy and our daily lives.
Considering the need for a collective response to the current climate emergency, and the fact that scientific projections indicate that the overall situation is expected to worsen in the coming years, my Government has taken the initiative to coordinate a regional response to this challenge.
As part of this initiative, the Ministry of Agriculture and my Personal Special Envoy on Climate Change, Professor Costas Papanicolas, coordinated the work of 13 Regional Task Forces, involving more than 240 scientists from across our region, to prepare and submit concrete proposals and solutions. Solutions that are scientifically sound, technologically mature and cost-effective.
In this regard, I take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to all the scientists and experts involved in this Project on a voluntary basis.
Your assessments and policy recommendations provide a solid foundation for Phase B of the Initiative, starting with the development of a comprehensive Regional Action Plan, the effective implementation of which will ultimately help our countries to. [*]Put in place appropriate mechanisms for more competitive and resilient economies through the transition to renewable and cleaner energy sources. [*]Enhance access to climate change-related financial mechanisms and instruments. [*]Provide incentives for businesses and industries to adapt and transition to green and sustainable technologies. [*]Create new green jobs and opportunities.
Having mentioned these, we hope that the European Union, as well as other regional and international organisations, will support our Initiative in various ways.
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Apart from our concerted efforts to avert climate challenges at the regional level, Cyprus remains fully committed to promoting multiple policies to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement, as well as implementing our commitments at the EU level and contributing to the achievement of its ambitious targets.
To this end, my Government has decided to allocate 41% of our national Recovery and Resilience Plan, which translates into more than €500 million for the period up to 2026, to measures that introduce cleaner fuels and contribute to Cyprus' green transition.
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Climate change affects every country, every region, every continent and can only be tackled if we act collectively, plan for future generations and together create the future we all aspire to live in.
In closing, I would like to express my great appreciation to the Minister of Agriculture Mr. Kostas Kadis and my Personal Special Envoy on Climate Change, Professor Papanicolas, for their great work and for hosting today's online meeting, and to wish all participants the most productive consultations.
I look forward to welcoming you to Cyprus next June for the 2nd Ministerial Meeting, during which we hope to finalise the framework of the Regional Action Plan and agree on its implementation mechanisms.
Thank you for your attention.
(EC/PM/BPO)
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