"We are planning and implementing an integrated policy to tackle climate change"
In relation to yesterday's press release by AKEL regarding the impacts of climate change and the measures taken to tackle it, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment notes the following:
- AKEL's reports on the implementation of policies and measures of the current government for environmental actions are, unfortunately, once again, at the very least inaccurate and flattening.
- The present Government is implementing coherent policies that govern horizontally all economic activities, aiming at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change, rational management of liquid and solid waste, protection of water resources, preservation of biodiversity, enhancing resource efficiency, sustainable urban mobility and integration of the environmental dimension in development actions.
- With regard to the timely preparation of a plan for adaptation to climate change in all sectors, the Council of Ministers on 18/5/2017, following a proposal by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, adopted the National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change. At the same time, for the implementation of the Strategy, a relevant Action Plan was prepared, which includes a series of actions in all sectors with a medium-term horizon, which are implemented by the competent implementing bodies. In addition, the Environment Department is the monitoring body for the implementation of the adaptation measures of the National Strategy and the Action Plan, and prepares a relevant Annual Report. The National Adaptation Strategy, the Action Plan and the Annual Reports are posted for information purposes on the website of the Environment Department.
- In the Recovery and Resilience Plan submitted by the Republic of Cyprus and approved by the European Commission, more than 40% of the budget, i.e. an amount of about half a billion euros, is dedicated to green transition and climate change projects. The total budget for these projects is higher than what was foreseen in accordance with Cyprus' contractual obligations. This also demonstrates the Government's emphasis on these areas.
- Clean and green energy has been dynamically integrated into the energy balance of our country, through the implementation of plans to encourage the use of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and Energy Saving.
- Cyprus fully complies with the obligations arising from its active participation in international organisations and is consistent with its international and European obligations, while achieving, so far, all its binding targets.
- As regards the revenues from the auctioning of greenhouse gas emission allowances, these revenues accrue to the fixed fund of the State and through which policies and measures are implemented (through the annual budgets) in order to achieve the goal of green growth.
- Finally, recognizing the importance of international cooperation to address a global problem such as Climate Change, President Anastasiades undertook the Initiative to bring together the countries of the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean, which will work together to implement measures proposed by more than 240 scientists working under this initiative.
- AKEL's disparaging references flatten and nullify the entire above project, as well as all the executives and scientists working on its implementation. The YMCA is always at the disposal of all parties for presentation and explanation of the policies implemented by the Government on the above issues and for discussion of their constructive suggestions.
(MAK)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
