Addressing the audience, the President described the Summit as extremely important at a crucial time, noting that the global challenges of climate change can only be reduced if everyone works together and works collectively with a common sense of urgency and commitment. 

"We have to be honest in order to strengthen our efforts to fulfill our promises. There is no indication that we are leading to green growth, as not only is global warming accelerating but we are also witnessing global catastrophes, including catastrophic fires, heat waves, deforestation, droughts and extreme weather events." 

He added that "for this very reason, Cyprus fully adopts and supports the initiatives and declarations of COP26, for Forests and land exploitation, for the reduction of carbon use, for the transition to zero pollutants from means of transport and the US initiative to reduce methane use".

The President of the Republic also noted that Cyprus remains fully committed to taking all necessary measures to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and the EU targets for a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and carbon emissions by 2050.

"As a first step towards achieving these ambitious but much-needed goals, my country will have more than € 500 million by 2026 to adopt new policies and measures regarding the use of cleaner fuels, such as natural gas and renewable energy sources, and to promote the necessary investments in the related sectors of transport, agriculture, industry, land use, forest protection and waste management ", according to the President.

Referring to his initiative on tackling the effects of climate change, the President stressed that "as a small country we recognize that our national contribution to tackling the effects of climate change is limited. We therefore seek to strengthen regional cooperation through coordinated synergies and exchange of best practices, given that the Mediterranean and the Middle East are at the heart of global climate change".

He continued, "In this context, we have taken the initiative to create a Regional Action Plan, with the participation of over 240 scientists from our wider region, as well as many international organizations that are already preparing proposals, measures and specific solutions".

The President affirmed that with the completion of the scientific part of the Action Plan, a meeting with Minsters and community leaders will be organized in the coming months in order to begin the implementation of committments made to reduce the effects of climate change in the area.

Cyprus is among the more than 100 countries supporting the Glasgow Declaration of Leaders on Forests and Land Use, which is being signed today in Glasgow as part of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26.

The goal of the agreement is to end deforestation by 2030 with a commitment of about $19 billion to that end.

Source: Knews