We are already faced with the challenges the climate crisis poses, President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides said on Friday, adding that tackling the problem. He also said that the target for a green transition needs to be attained, but expressed the view that EU will be forced to revise the obligations set for member states.
The President was addressing an event, at the Presidential Palace, where twenty-one local authorities and thirty organisations and businesses were awarded the “Cyprus Green Cities and Green Communities Awards” and the “Cyprus Environmental Awards for Organisations and Businesses” for 2023.
In his address, President Christodoulides said that the State alone can in no way achieve the ambitious goal of the green transition, which must be achieved not because it is imposed on us by international and European obligations, but for the future of the country and for the new generation.
He said that the number one concern of the youth is the future of the planet and the challenges of climate c
hange.
“The climate crisis is before us today, we are already facing the challenges. It is for this reason that for our part, as a State, we attach great importance, it is very high on our priorities, not because it is our obligation”, he said.
Regarding the obligations set by the EU, the President of the Republic said that he believes that the EU will soon be forced to revise these obligations, because it is not feasible to achieve all the objectives.
Environment Commissioner Antonia Theodosiou stressed the urgent need to strengthen efforts for greener cities and communities and green organisations and businesses to achieve sustainable development and a circular economy.
She said that the challenges of the climate crisis require innovation, cooperation and active participation and reaffirmed her commitment to structured promotion of good, integrated and global practices that will make urban as well as rural areas sustainable.
The awards are an initiative of the Cyprus Center for Environmental Research a
nd Education.
Source: Cyprus News Agency