Cyprus is taking measures to protect environment: President Christofias

Cyprus is taking measures to protect environment, President of the Republic Demetris Christofias has said noting that a series of measures is already implemented or being promoted for implementation to this effect.

Speaking at a press conference on the occasion of World Environment Day, President Christofias said that humanity is facing a major ecological crisis that threatens the future of world civilization “that’s why we all need to take actions”.

He added that nowadays nobody doubts that this ecological crisis, especially greenhouse effect as well as climate change, becomes ever more intense.

Referring to recent studies, he noted that the increase of carbon dioxide emissions over the past century has no historical precedent.

As a result, he continued, the planet's temperature is rising more than predicted by the United Nations Intergovernmental Committee on Environment in its 2001 Report.

Hence, the catastrophic climate consequences due to greenhouse effect are even worse, he said.

He, also, talked about “unfavourable prospects”, noting that humanity must move fast and take the appropriate decisions which should implement them collectively and decisively.

“If humanity does not manage to cut down carbon dioxide emissions early enough, then these consequences will seriously affect the quality of life and will cause major losses in all living organisms”, he said.

He went on to say that “Our country is located in a very sensitive area of the planet where temperature is forecasted to increase and rainfall to decrease, while serious problems should not be ruled out due to the increase of the sea level”.

“Cyprus is ready to take the part which corresponds to it in order to tackle climates changes”, he added, noting at the same time that “a series of measures and policies has already been implemented or being promoted for implementation to this direction”.

He concluded by saying that “the protection of the environment is everyone's business and all must contribute to this effect”.