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Climate change affects every country and can only be addressed if we act collectively, said today the President of the Republic Nikos Anastasiadis.
In his inaugural remarks at the online “Ministerial Meeting on the Initiative for Tackling Climate Change in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East”, organized and hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, President Anastasiadis added that for this purpose, the Government decided to 41% of our national Recovery and Sustainability Plan, for the period until 2026, for measures that introduce cleaner fuels and contribute to the green transition of Cyprus.
Referring to the participants, President Anastasiadis stressed that the participation of well-known scientists and distinguished policy makers from the neighboring 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”.
Referring to the region, he said that it is characterized as a “hot spot” , with our countries being 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.
Taking into account the need for a collective response to the current climate emergency, as well as the fact that scientific forecasts indicate that the overall situation is expected to deteriorate in the coming years, the Government said, “took the initiative to coordinate a regional response to this challenge. ».
As part of this Initiative, the Ministry of Agriculture and its Personal Envoy for Climate Change, Professor Costas Papanikolas, coordinated the work of the 13 Regional Special Groups, with the participation of more than 240 scientists from the wider region to prepare specific proposals and solutions. Solutions that are scientifically sound, technologically mature and cost-effective, he said.
The President thanked all the scientists and experts involved in this Project on a voluntary basis. At the same time, he stated that their evaluations and policy recommendations “provide the solid foundations for the Second Phase of the Initiative, starting with the development of a comprehensive Regional Action Plan, the effective implementation of which will ultimately help our countries to promote actions aimed at reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the catastrophic effects of climate change.
At the same time, they will launch appropriate mechanisms for more competitive and resilient economies through the transition to renewable and cleaner energy sources and enhance access to financial mechanisms and instruments related to climate change while providing incentives for businesses and industries to adapt and transition to green and sustainable technologies.
He expressed the hope that the European Union, as well as other regional and international organizations, will support the Initiative of the Republic of Cyprus in various ways.
President Anastasiadis said that in addition to our coordinated efforts to prevent climate change at the regional level, Cyprus remains fully committed to promoting multiple policies to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, as well as to implementing our commitments at the regional level. The EU and its contribution to achieving its ambitious goals.
To this end, he said, “My Government has decided to allocate 41% of our national Recovery and Sustainability Plan, which translates to more than 500 million euros for the period up to 2026, for measures that introduce cleaner fuels and contribute to green transition of Cyprus “.
President Anastasiadis stressed that “climate change affects every country, every region, every continent and can only be tackled if we act collectively, plan for the next generations and create together the future in which we all aspire to live.”
He expressed his appreciation to the Minister of Agriculture Costas Kadis and his personal special envoy for climate change, Professor Papanikola, for their great work and wished to welcome the participants in Cyprus next June for the 2nd Ministerial Meeting, during which hope that the framework of the Regional Action Plan will be finalized and that the mechanisms for its implementation will be agreed upon.
