Dep. Minister to the President: Cyprus needs to double green investments

In order to achieve climate neutrality, Cyprus' public investment for the 2030-2050 period should be doubled compared to the current decade, said Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki, who participated as a speaker in the Green Agenda Cyprus Summit.

At the same time, according to a statement by the Deputy Ministry, she pointed out that the cost of the green transition is lower than the cost of uncontrolled climate change.

The intervention of the Deputy Minister focused on the strategic priorities set in the Government Programme and presented the policies included in it, aiming to improve the lives of citizens, with particular emphasis on the green transition.

In her opening remarks, she pointed out that climate change and its growing and intensifying consequences constitute the biggest challenge facing the planet today, noting that it is inextricably linked to planetary health.

The Eastern Mediterranean region, she added, is one of the fastest warming regions in the world, so the effects of climate change are more evident. This fact, she said, underlines the need to promote green transition and to effectively safeguard public health.

Piki also said that the government, having a clear vision and roadmap to promote clean energy, tackle energy poverty and remove energy isolation, is implementing specific policies and measures, with the green transition being one of the six priority axes that have people at the centre.

Policies for the green transition, she pointed out, are approached horizontally, and are based on three pillars: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transforming the economy towards sustainability and protecting the environment.

She referred to specific policies and measures including, among others, the implementation of subsidy schemes that support the energy upgrade of households and businesses such as "Photovoltaics for All", the promotion of the tax reform through which green taxation is implemented, the pilot implementation of the green community and the promotion of Cyprus as a testing ground for new technologies for the use of solar energy.

The Deputy Minister also stressed that any further delay in the implementation of economic policies that promote the green transition and the circular economy will cost society much more.

She also noted that achieving the goals of the green transition requires support and cooperation between political forces, businesses, social organisations, citizens and governments to implement sustainable changes in all sectors of society.

(Source: CNA)