Cyprus' commitment to integrating climate change adaptation into national policies and to utilizing international collaborations to strengthen the resilience of the country, as well as the entire Southeastern European region, was underlined by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Dr. Maria Panayiotou.
An official announcement states that the Minister participated on February 4-5 in the Ministerial Conference on "Challenges for Adaptation to Climate Change in Southeast Europe", which took place in the city of Kranj, Slovenia.
In her intervention in the high-level discussion on the role that the National Hydro-Meteorological Services have to play in efforts to adapt to climate change, the Minister highlighted the importance of the two Services and the need to strengthen them, so that they can provide accurate and timely data on climate and extreme weather phenomena.
He also stressed that the installation of advanced meteorological instruments and early warning systems is underway, allowing communities to prepare for extreme weather events.
Regarding the discussion on collective resilience and strengthening regional cooperation for climate change adaptation, Dr. Panayiotou highlighted the need to invest in prevention.
In the ensuing discussion on national strategies and adaptation plans to climate change, Dr. Panayiotou informed about the progress and key priorities of Cyprus on this issue, focusing on the revision of the National Plan and National Adaptation Strategy, which are aligned with the EU Adaptation Strategy and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Covering the period 2025–2050, Cyprus' strategy, he said, seeks to address rising temperatures, prolonged droughts and coastal erosion, with targeted measures in the sectors of agriculture, energy, water, infrastructure and health.
Finally, he confirmed the country's commitment to integrating climate change adaptation into national policies and to leveraging international partnerships to strengthen the resilience of the country, but also of the entire Southeastern European region, to address climate challenges.
On the sidelines of the Conference, the Minister of Agriculture held bilateral contacts with the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization Celeste Saulo, as well as with her counterparts from Slovenia and Croatia.
The Minister, who is accompanied by the Director of the Department of Environment and the Meteorological Service, is expected to return to Cyprus today, Thursday.
Source: KYPE
