Policies, measures and actions on climate change and
environmental protection in the context of COVID-19 recovery.

Cyprus

Last update 3 Sep. 2020

Message

Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment

Costas Kadis

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Cyprus

Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment

Costas Kadis

I would like to congratulate the Minister of Environment of Japan as well as the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC for organizing this very interesting discussion for two highly important issues: post-COVID 19 recovery and climate change.

Even before the COVID 19 pandemic, Cyprus has been a supporter of the new development strategy launched by the European Union, namely the Green Deal, which interconnects economic growth with the main environmental and climate change issues.

Through the COVID 19 crisis and its consequences, it has become even clearer that a “green recovery” is the only recovery option for a sustainable future. By relaunching the economy with a business-as-usual model in mind, we risk facing global climate crisis, biodiversity loss as well as new health crises. It is our duty to strive towards climate neutrality and healthy ecosystems.

To achieve this at the post-COVID-19 era, the new development strategies of countries need to be interlinked to the environmental and climate change goals and objectives. Financial mechanisms that will support this transition need to be developed.

The European Union is in the process of developing financing mechanisms that will support the transition needs of its Member States, in a way that they will be able to achieve their specific environmental goals and objectives. Cyprus, as a member of the European Union, is developing a new governance system that will focus on the design and implementation of policies which will be in line with the Green Deal and will effectively utilize the relevant EU financing instruments.

‘Environment-proofing’ of recovery measures, with considerations of climate change adaptation, biodiversity protection, recourse efficiency, circular economy and pollution abatement will integrate greening in our policies once and for all. By applying sustainable finance tools as well as mechanisms that ensure high environmental standards across borders, we will ensure a level playing field with far-reaching results.

Investing in a green recovery plan and ensuring adequate focus on financial instruments on reforms, especially related to green and digital transitions, will help us move towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

Thank you.

1.Climate mitigation measures

Response Recovery Redesign

Indicative Measures
National Plan for Energy and Climate
- Policies and Measures

Reference National Plan for Energy and Climate

Contact Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
Department of Environment
Theodoulos Mesimeris – Senior Environment Officer
Transition to renewable energy

Response Recovery Redesign

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and environmental objectives
- Emissions in the non-ETS sectors to be reduced by 20.9% compared to 2005. The non-ETS national target is going to be achieved by the use of flexible mechanisms provided by the ESR.
- Emissions from land use, land use change or forestry are offset by at least an equivalent removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere
- Emissions in ETS sectors to be reduced by 24.9% compared to 2005
- Attaining quantitative targets for reducing national emissions of specific air pollutants

Reference National Plan for Energy and Climate

Contact Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
Department of Environment
Theodoulos Mesimeris – Senior Environment Officer
Response Recovery Redesign

Increasing the share of RES in energy consumption
- Share of RES in gross final energy consumption to reach 23%
- Share of RES in gross final electricity consumption can reach at least 26%
- Share of RES in heating and cooling to reach 39%
- Share of RES in the transport sector to reach 14%

Reference National Plan for Energy and Climate

Contact Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
Department of Environment
Theodoulos Mesimeris – Senior Environment Officer
Transition to renewable energy

Response Recovery Redesign

Improving Energy Efficiency
- Final Energy Consumption of 2.0 Mtoe in 2030, representing 13% reduction in final energy consumption*
- Primary Energy Consumption of 2.4 Mtoe in 2030, representing 17% reduction in primary energy consumption*
- Achieving cumulative energy saving of 243.04 ktoe during 2021-2030

Reference National Plan for Energy and Climate

Contact Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
Department of Environment
Theodoulos Mesimeris – Senior Environment Officer

2.Climate adaptation measures

Adaptation planning

Response Recovery Redesign

Indicative measures
National Plan for Adaptation
- Policies and Measures

Reference National Plan for Adaptation (in Greek)

Contact Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
Department of Environment
Theodoulos Mesimeris – Senior Environment Officer

3.Other environmental measures

Waste management and Circular economy / sustainable production and consumption

Response Recovery Redesign

Circular Economy - indicative measuresMunicipal Waste Management Plan 2015-2021 (under revision): The Municipal Waste Management Strategy, defines the basic principles governing the management of municipal waste, sets national qualitative and quantitative targets for separate sorting at source and establishes measures to achieve them. The measures cover the three main policy pillars: regulatory measures to implement the separate collection of waste, measures to provide incentives for the appropriate management of waste, such as the establishment of a Pay-As-You-Throw schemes, and information and awareness-raising measures to change production and consumption patterns.
Waste Generation Prevention Plan 2015-2021 (under revision): The Prevention Program includes a package of measures for the reduction of specific waste streams, including food waste, paper, plastic, electrical and electronic equipment, clothing and construction and demolition waste.
Waste Management Plan for Other Waste Streams 2016-2022, Waste Management Plan for Tires 2016-2022 and Waste Management Plan for Fuels and Waste Lubricating Oils 2016-2022: The three Plans set out the basic principles for the management of the remaining waste streams, defining the measures and actions to be taken, including legislative measures and other actions for the better implementation and monitoring of appropriate waste management.

Reference Circular Economy (in Greek)

Contact Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
Department of Environment
Nasia Dikigoropoulou – Environment Officer A
Other environmental pollution countermeasures

Response Recovery Redesign

Biodiversity – indicative measures
Cyprus is in the process of preparing its Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Ambitious targets are formed taking into consideration the preparations for the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and will be finalized after the adoption of these Strategies.
The EU Biodiversity Strategy sets ambitious commitments which Cyprus generally supports. For example, the commitment for 30% of land area under protection is an achievable target but the commitment for 30% of sea area under protection is very ambitious and would require significant resources to be achieved.
Cyprus supports the commitments for nature protection and restoration, improving the condition of agroecosystems, maintaining soil fertility, increasing the quantity, quality and resilience of forests, biodiversity-friendly sustainable energy generation, restoring and protecting marine ecosystems, achieving good status for all surface waters, greening urban areas, reducing pollution, addressing invasive alien species and integrating biodiversity into education.

Reference Biodiversity Strategy (in Greek)

Contact Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
Department of Environment
Elena Stylianopoulou – Senior Environment Officer

4.International Cooperation

Response Recovery

Cyprus Government Initiative for Coordinating Climate Change Actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East

Reference Initiative

Contact Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
Department of Environment
Theodoulos Mesimeris – Senior Environment Officer