President Christodoulides, speaking at the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, addressed the country’s efforts to combat climate change impacts.
In his address, Christodoulides expressed deep concern about the worsening effects of climate change, stating that “we are at a critical crossroads, as the impacts of climate change are intensifying at an alarming rate”.
He noted that “in the Mediterranean region, we are witnessing an increase in extreme weather events, such as devastating fires, intense and prolonged periods of drought, heatwaves, and rising sea levels, as we have recently seen in Spain“.
The president emphasised that “extreme weather events impact our ecosystems and our economies, particularly in sectors such as agriculture and tourism, as well as citizens’ quality of life”.
Christodoulides warned that these developments serve as a clear warning of what is to come, stressing the need for urgent, decisive and coordinated action.
“We need immediate and targeted actions at both national and regional levels”, the president said, highlighting that “Cyprus has taken preventive steps in this direction by implementing the National Strategy since 2017, which we are upgrading to enhance our ability to manage complex and interconnected risks from climate change”.
He emphasised that despite its small size, Cyprus is determined to contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Regarding Cyprus’s regional action, Christodoulides announced the reactivation of the Republic of Cyprus Initiative for addressing climate change impacts in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, which aims to develop synergies for impact reduction through cross-border actions.
He also mentioned other promising regional initiatives under consideration, including cooperation between Cyprus and Jordan to establish a regional aerial firefighting station and develop infrastructure for sea protection and water management.
The president concluded by emphasising the importance of collective action, noting that individual state actions are insufficient to address climate change impacts. He stressed the need to involve all citizens, particularly the younger generation, and businesses through green investments.
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