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Towards the development of a
Regional Climate Action Plan for the EMME
The 2nd Ministerial
Meeting of the Cyprus Government Initiative for Coordinating Climate Change
Actions in the EMME took place in Lemesos, Cyprus, on 7 June 2022,
facilitating discussions for the development of a 10-year Regional Action
Plan for urgently-needed climate action in the region. The Meeting precedes
an EMME Heads of State Summit due to take place on 25 October 2022, for the
ratification and official launching of the initiative.
The President of the Republic
of Cyprus, Mr Nicos Anastasiades, in his address to the 2nd Ministerial
Meeting, delivered on his behalf by the Deputy Minister to the President Mr
Kyriacos Koushos, stressed the urgency for coordinated climate action in the
EMME region, and restated the commitment of the Republic of Cyprus to help
coordinate joint regional efforts for the introduction of measures,
structures and mechanisms that can help accelerate progress towards the goals
of the Paris Agreement, within the framework of the Initiative.
President Anastasiades
commended the active involvement of responsible Ministries from governments
of countries of the EMME region in the Ministerial Meeting, noting that this
shows the region’s commitment to ensuring a safe and sustainable future for
its peoples. He also thanked the representatives of other countries and
international organizations that participated in the Meeting as Observers,
including the EU, Australia, France, the organizers of COP26 Italy and the
UK, the US, the Union for the Mediterranean and the International Renewable
Energy Agency, for acknowledging and supporting the joint efforts taken by
the governments of the EMME region.
In his address, Cyprus Minister
of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Mr Costas Kadis,
emphasised that what makes this Initiative very special is that it brings
together governments, scientists and policymakers. He reminded that the
policy recommendations and measures proposed in the Regional Action Plan have
been put together by 240 scientists who voluntarily participated in the
Scientific Task Forces of the Initiative, with the aim of targeting the
specific needs and challenges of the EMME region – which has been recognized
as a climate change “hotspot”, and is due to experience Climate Change more
intensely and sooner than other regions of the world.
The Ministerial Meeting
presented and discussed the first draft of the Regional Climate Action Plan,
as it was put together by the Initiative’s Interim Secretariat, which has
been assigned to the Cyprus Institute. The Plan proposes possible policy
measures, joint projects and actions for Climate Change mitigation and
adaptation in the EMME region, based on the scientific findings and
recommendations produced by the Initiative’s Scientific Task Forces.
During the Meeting, governance,
monitoring and financing mechanisms were also discussed for the successful
implementation of the Regional Action Plan, and priorities were set for its
finalization. The Regional Action Plan will be revised, based on the inputs
of the Ministerial Meeting, ahead of the EMME Heads of State Summit, set for
25 October 2022.
During the Opening of the
Ministerial Meeting a one-minute silence was held in memory of Cyprus
Minister of Labour, Ms Zeta Emilianidou, who passed away on 6 June.
(MAK/EK/SCH)
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