Paving the way for the preparation of a Regional Action Plan
The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment organised on Wednesday, 2 February 2022, an online meeting of the Environment Ministers of the countries participating in the Republic of Cyprus Initiative to address the impacts of climate change in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) region. The main objective of the Ministerial Meeting, which was chaired by Environment Minister Costas Kadis, was to discuss the structure and content of a Regional Action Plan on Climate Change, based on the scientific results of the work of more than 240 eminent scientists from the region and around the world, through a month-long process coordinated by the Cyprus Institute. In addition, the Ministers had the opportunity to discuss the organizational structure of the Initiative, which will consist of the Board of Directors, the Offices of the participating countries and the Regional Secretariat. Nicos Anastasiades welcomed the participants, stressing that "the participation of so many renowned scientists and distinguished policy makers from our neighbouring region is proof not only of the magnitude of the threat posed by the climate crisis, but also of our readiness to coordinate synergies and exchange best practices." For his part, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Costas Kadis, in his opening remarks, sent the message that "only if we act collectively, based on sound scientific knowledge, will we be able to avoid the consequences of climate change in our region".
It is worth noting that the Ministerial Meeting was attended by Ministers from a large number of countries from the EMME region, who enriched the discussion with their valuable views and proposals. All participants expressed their full support to the Cyprus Government's initiative, as well as their commitment to continue to support it.
The Summit was also attended by Mr. David Livingston, Senior Advisor to the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Change Mr. John Kerry, Ms. Janet Rogan, Regional Ambassador for the Middle East and Africa at COP26, Dr. Petteri Taalas, Secretary General of the United Nations World Meteorological Organization, Mr. Nikolaos Isaris, Deputy Head of the European Commission Representation in Cyprus, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment of Egypt, the country holding the Presidency of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP27 and Dr. Grammenos Mastrojeni, Senior Deputy Secretary General and Head of the Energy and Climate Action Sector at the Union for the Mediterranean.
In his statement, Mr. David Livingston, on behalf of Presidential Envoy Kerry, congratulated the Republic of Cyprus on the initiative to take action on climate change, stressing that the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East will be one of the most affected regions of the world, as higher temperatures, unprecedented heat waves and water scarcity are expected. Thanks to the combined scientific efforts of the participants in the initiative, we have a much clearer picture of what could happen, he continued. The U.S. Government, she concluded, supports the Euro Asia Interconnector electrical interconnection project between Israel and Cyprus and Greece as an important step forward in promoting regional cooperation and energy security, while providing energy flexibility for years to come.
Ms. Janet Rogan said that climate change is an environmental and geopolitical issue, as well as a security issue. The Republic of Cyprus Initiative, she continued, systematically recognises the interdependence of challenges and threats, and has been gathering data and undertaking analysis to support an evidence-based action plan against which any progress can be measured.
Professor Kostas N. Papanicolas, President of the Cyprus Institute, which coordinates the scientific part of the Initiative, stressed in his presentation that if we do not take appropriate measures, the EMME region will experience the impacts of climate change even more intensely, with perhaps irreversible results.
In his closing remarks, after the interventions of all participants of the Summit, Costas Kadis noted that the contributions submitted by all countries will be used to develop a commonly accepted Action Plan, which will provide scientifically valid measures, appropriate for the EMME region, applicable and economically feasible. "We want this Action Plan to be dynamic and open to new ideas and new contributions, leading to climate protection projects complementary to our national plans. We hope that today's meeting will promote the launch of those necessary cross-border actions that could attract international attention and support."
The Action Plan will be discussed and finalised at the next Ministerial Meeting to be hosted in Cyprus on 7 June 2022, and will be endorsed by the Heads of State at a Regional Summit to be held next October.
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