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- Русский
Tuesday, 30 May 2023, 09.30 a.m, Camp "Makis Giorgalla"
It is with great pleasure that I have the opportunity today, at this conference, to develop the joint actions of the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the National Guard (GNEF) on the environment and energy. The conversion of our camps to "green" is not a slogan, it is a series of long-term actions, so that we can contribute to the National and European targets to gradually achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Our main objective is the implementation of the European and Governmental Policy in relation to the environment, climate change and the efficient use of natural resources and raw materials, in full compliance with European Directives and International Conventions.
The Environment Committee of the Ministry of Defence, was created in 2005 with the main objective of creating the Environmental Policy of the Ministry of Defence, which at that time was rejected by the accession of Cyprus to the European Union and the implementation for the first time in the Ministry of Defence of environmental actions and programmes. The Ministry of Defence, taking into account the challenges, the complexity of environmental issues, the horizontal actions for the protection of the environment and our European and International obligations, created the Environment and Energy Sector for the more effective implementation and monitoring of the environmental programs in the National Guard Camps. It performs this task within the context of its political role, but also within the context of its operations and the decisions it makes on a day-to-day basis.
To achieve this goal, the Ministry of Defence is in constant collaboration with various government departments and agencies concerned with environmental and energy issues, and has begun to plan and implement environmental and energy actions ranging from energy conservation to carbon reduction, mobility, water We have established best practices to reduce our environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future without impacting the operational readiness of the National Guard.
Specifically, the most important actions that have been implemented and are planned to be implemented are the following:
We have implemented the Eco Management and Environmental Management System according to the European Regulation EMAS (Eco Management and Audit Scheme) in six (6) camps,
- Lieutenant General Stylianos Kalbourtzis,
- Lieutenant General Tasos Markos,
- heroes Makis Georgalas and
- Pantelis Katelaris,
- the Andreas Papandreou Air Base,
- and the Naval Base of Lieutenant General Evangelos Florakis,
with the aim of evaluating, recording and improving environmental performance in terms of proper waste management.
At these camps, measures have been implemented to reduce waste production, as well as measures for the proper management and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. I would like to mention that the camp of Lieutenant General Stylianos Kalbourtzi was the first camp in Europe to implement an Environmental Management System according to EMAS, and it was published at European level as "Best Practice" by the European Defence Agency and the European Commission.
Hazardous waste and its management is one of the biggest global problems today, because of its many negative effects on public health and the environment. Our Ministry's goal is to extend the hazardous waste management program currently in place at various National Guard camps to as many camps as possible. The success of this programme contributes significantly to ensuring the health of personnel and the sustainability of the environment.
We are implementing a recycling and waste separation system in all National Guard camps, but we want this important action to be done on a more systematic basis, which is why we started a new partnership with Green Dot Cyprus a few days ago. This collaboration concerns the implementation of a pilot recycling program for the environmentally sound and efficient management and disposal of waste packaging in four (4) National Guard camps. The aim is to implement the recycling program in all National Guard camps.
Other smaller actions, but equally important, is the management of prunings, with the purchase of shredders, where we were able to manage to a large extent the problem that our camps had every year. The prunings are now shredded on site and used as a means of fertilising the soil.
Water saving is an important aspect of sustainable development, especially in our country, which is experiencing the effects of climate change.
We are therefore implementing water saving programmes in camps by :
- using water saving and reuse mechanisms
- implementing best practices to address water leakage through the application of telemetry
- promoting management measures to improve the efficiency of camp irrigation through the use of new technologies and
- developing management plans to prevent floods and address the risks arising from them.
I should also mention that the maintenance and upgrading of the biological stations for the proper management of wastewater in three (3) camps (Lieutenant General Stylianos Kalbourtzis, Stavros Stylianidis and Pantelis Katelaris) has recently started and will be gradually extended to the other camps where such stations operate.
The Ministry of Defence also pays special attention to the footprint and possible environmental impact of the operation and activities of the National Guard. To this end, with the contribution of the relevant departments of the State: Department of Environment, Department of Geological Survey, Department of Labour Inspection and the State Chemistry Department, we have prepared management environmental studies for the "Xydous" and "Kalou Chorio" Fields of Fire. The studies have been completed and their results will be presented to the residents of the affected areas.
In addition, Ecological Sustainable Development (ESD) is being integrated into the built environment by adopting its criteria, principles and guidelines during the design phase of the Ministry of Defence's new facilities, as well as during the maintenance and renovation of its older facilities.
Systematic monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions is carried out in order to enable a more accurate and regular assessment of progress in reducing emissions, and we participate in the National Green Public Procurement Action Plan (GPAP). We also attach great importance to the rational management of the military sites located within the Natura 2000 Network, by implementing measures that are in line with the provisions of the management plans of the Natura 2000 Network sites that have been prepared. The total capacity of the photovoltaic systems to be installed is estimated at approximately 12 Giga Watt. The project will start in 2023 and its implementation is expected to be completed in 2027. The full installation and operation of the photovoltaic systems is part of the overall achievement of the national target for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and will contribute by 2.5% to the capacity of photovoltaic systems to be installed by the Republic of Cyprus by 2030. We consider this action as one of the most important challenges for the Ministry of Defence in the next five years.
We have contracted with the Cyprus Electricity Authority to replace almost all the energy-intensive outdoor lighting lamps in National Guard camps with LED lamps. The first phase of the project has been completed with the replacement of 2,200 energy consuming lamps in 14 camps, while the replacement of another 4,400 lamps will start by the end of the year. The cost of this action is approximately €1.5 million, with a payback period of 4 years from energy savings.
We are also studying a proposal from the Electricity Authority to replace energy-intensive air conditioners with inverters and oil heating boilers with heat pumps for all National Guard buildings.
These programs will contribute significantly to the promotion of the government's policy for energy saving and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, having at the same time a significant benefit of saving financial resources, but are also part of the strategy of the Ministry of Defense to fulfill its European obligations.
As Mr.
The Ministry of Defence will contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the European Union's roadmap by developing by the end of 2023 the National Strategy for the preparation of the Armed Forces for the impacts of climate change.
We place particular emphasis on cooperation with organisations, academic institutions, government agencies within and outside Cyprus (Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Ministry of Energy, Trade, Industry and Tourism, Frederick University, University of Cyprus, Open University of Cyprus, Open University of Cyprus).
We place particular emphasis on cooperation with organisations, academic institutions, government agencies within and outside Cyprus (Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Ministry of Energy, Trade, Industry and Tourism, Frederick University, University of Cyprus, Open University of Cyprus, Open University of Cyprus). We participate in committees and programmes through which we are informed about the European Union's policies and actions on the environment, and we gain experience and knowledge which we apply in the camps wherever possible.
All the above mentioned actions are included in the environmental strategy of the Ministry of Defence that is currently being implemented to establish best practices in order to reduce our environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future.
The environment is everyone's business!
It is all of us!
We must protect it, it deserves it!
As Director General of the Department of Defense, I assure you that I will support in every way possible the ongoing effort to make our camps "green" and more environmentally friendly.
Thank you all for being here today!
(NΓ/ΣΧ)
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Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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