The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry launched on Wednesday an initiative on Corporate Responsibility during a ceremony here today in the presence of Cyprus President Demetris Christofias.
Fifty one businesses signed the Charter Against Climate Change which commits them to working to fulfill Cyprus’ national goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 15% by 2020.
In his speech during the ceremony, President Christofias said that climate change is the most dangerous challenge, as it evolves gradually and quietly, with repercussions in the years ahead.
“This allows for complacency which should not be permitted, which allows the fundamental cause of the problem to last. The cause is indifference for what is to follow, it is also being trapped by short term profit which develops into a heavy cost for the generations to come,” the President stressed.
The President warned against burdening further the environment, saying this would bring about climate change which might be out of man’s reach to rectify.
President Christofias also noted that the protection of the environment is not an obstacle to development but a precondition of viability and sustainability.
“We should invest, throughout the world, in a new economy with full respect to the environment. A clean and green economy in all sectors. Changes in the environment is a direct threat to our health, our quality of life, the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breath, a threat to the viability of our planet,” he pointed out.
He added that since 2008, Cyprus has been implementing a coherent strategy that combines development and the protection of the environment. The President referred to schemes relating to town planning, recycle, restriction of greenhouse emissions, treatment of liquid and solid waste and protection of the water resources.
CCCI President Manthos Mavrommatis said that businesses are given the opportunity through this initiative to contribute to Cyprus’ and EU goal to reduce greenhouse emissions by 2020.
CYTA President Stathis Kittis said that CYTA has for a long time been implementing policies to reduce emissions from its installations.
At the end of the ceremony, President Christofias handed over diplomas to the participating enterprises.
