The answer to the challenges of the climate crisis lies in the prudent use of natural resources, as well as in investing in prevention and resilience, said the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, as he addressed the 8th annual ceremony for the 2025 Pan-Cyprus Environmental Awards for Organizations and Businesses, Green Cities and Green Communities of Cyprus, which took place on Monday evening at the Presidential Palace.
The President emphasized the need for policies, initiatives, and choices that change the way we operate and develop, noting that we must “ensure that today’s progress does not come at the expense of tomorrow’s potential.” These awards, he said, also serve this purpose.
“Every municipality, every community, every organization, and every business that integrates environmental considerations into the way it plans and operates demonstrates in practice that sustainability can translate into concrete choices and measurable results,”, the President explained, adding that “when a best practice proves its value, it gains a multiplier effect through its wider application and its contribution to shaping new standards”.
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He also noted that “the longevity of any environmental policy ultimately depends on the knowledge, education, and culture we build, as well as the active participation of citizens,” adding that the Cyprus Center for Environmental Research and Education has been serving this purpose for 22 years.
“Thousands of our students have already participated in the Center’s programs completely free of charge, while its activities have extended beyond Cyprus’s borders and are now expanding at the European and international levels,”said the President, congratulating the Metropolitan of Limassol, the Bishop of Amathus, and the Center’s Scientific Director for their work.
Congratulating the award recipients, President Christodoulides said that the greatest value of the distinction lies in the momentum it creates. “When a good practice ceases to be an exception and becomes a consistent way of life and action. We want to reach a point where we no longer need to honor those who set a good example through their actions; rather, we must all follow your example,” he noted.
“Environmental protection is not—and should not be—at odds with development. Development can go hand in hand with environmental protection, and, believe me, in the long run, it will be the right kind of development,” the President concluded.
Source: CNA
