Environmental Policies
#37Key Findings
Given its fragmented and badly coordinated strategies, Cyprus falls into the bottom ranks internationally (rank 37) with regard to environmental policies. Its score on this measure has improved by 0.1 point relative to 2014.
The country has continued to prioritize financial interests over environmental protections, failing to meet EU obligations. Emissions and renewable-energy targets have not been met. Energy policy is focused on green taxation, energy efficiency and renewables, and green mobility. However, limited subsidies mean that transport remains dominated by fossil-fuel-burning cars.
Though water management is a serious issue, water-intensive projects continue to be approved. Desalination continues, with limited reuse of wastewater. Waste generation is a serious problem. Protections for sensitive inland and maritime areas are pending, but projects threatening these areas continue with little impact assessment.
Local and central government officials routinely highlight the important of profit to justify anti-environmental decisions. New projects violating existing rules are routinely approved.
The country has continued to prioritize financial interests over environmental protections, failing to meet EU obligations. Emissions and renewable-energy targets have not been met. Energy policy is focused on green taxation, energy efficiency and renewables, and green mobility. However, limited subsidies mean that transport remains dominated by fossil-fuel-burning cars.
Though water management is a serious issue, water-intensive projects continue to be approved. Desalination continues, with limited reuse of wastewater. Waste generation is a serious problem. Protections for sensitive inland and maritime areas are pending, but projects threatening these areas continue with little impact assessment.
Local and central government officials routinely highlight the important of profit to justify anti-environmental decisions. New projects violating existing rules are routinely approved.
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How effectively does environmental policy in your country protect and preserve the sustainability of natural resources and environmental quality?
10
9
9
Environmental policy goals are ambitious and effectively implemented as well as monitored within and across most relevant policy sectors that account for the largest share of resource use and emissions.
8
7
6
7
6
Environmental policy goals are mainly ambitious and effectively implemented and are monitored within and across some of the relevant policy sectors that account for the largest share of resource use and emissions.
5
4
3
4
3
Environmental policy goals are neither particularly ambitious nor are they effectively implemented and coordinated across relevant policy sectors.
2
1
1
Environmental concerns have been largely abandoned.
Cyprus’s response to several warnings from the European Commission regarding the country’s systematic failure to comply with EU environmental rules, accumulated by the eve of 2020, came two years later, as a draft law that sets the requirements for impact assessments was presented to the parliament. The absence of ambitious goals is accompanied by a lack of urgency to meet obligations. Environmental policies have been insufficient and inadequately implemented. Meanwhile, the basic targets of Europe 2020 have not been met.
The environmental issues are absent from the EU post-program surveillance reports. Cyprus’s Recovery and Resilience Plan for 2021 to 2026 mostly focuses on energy issues, although 2020 targets were missed, and to some extent on climate protection. This means that other areas where problems persist do not receive the attention they deserve.
Regulations protecting Natura 2000 areas, both inland and at sea, remain pending, while projects with deficient or no impact assessment threaten these areas. The Akamas peninsula and other sites remain at risk from plans or decisions of the government sidelining environmental protection. Despite water management being a major environmental challenge, authorities have approved several new water-intensive projects (e.g., golf courses). Desalination continues while the reuse of wastewater remains limited. Energy policy is at the heart of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, while fossil fuel exploration continues. The main policies in the Recovery and Resilience Plan consist in introducing green taxation, investing in energy efficiency measures and renewables, and promoting sustainable green mobility. With these policies, Cyprus is expected to benefit from its natural advantages in solar energy, to promote energy efficient buildings, and to shift from the use of private cars to cycling, walking and the use of electric cars. Green taxes may assist in reducing waste generation and improving the efficiency of waste management.
Promotion of green mobility started with subsidies for electric cars and bicycles. However, given substantial infrastructural problems and the limited amount of subsidies available, transport continues to be almost exclusively dominated by private combustion-engine cars.
Given the island’s vulnerability to climate change, Cyprus participated in the eighth Summit of the Southern EU Countries and in the second Eastern Mediterranean Conference on Climate, among other meetings.
It remains to be seen whether initiatives and statements will translate into concrete actions, whether expert warnings will be sufficiently convincing and whether the authorities will comply with existing EU rules. New projects with significant negative effects for ecosystems have been approved. The unruly construction of very high buildings continues in defiance of town planning rules and the limitations they impose. Laws such as the one voted in 2017 leave the door open for the privatization of natural resources.
Political expediency favors financial interests at the expense of environmental protection. Politicians, businesses, and representatives from both public and private institutions persistently press for the relaxation of environmental protection rules. Local and central government authorities continue to highlight the importance of profit to justify decisions damaging the environment.
Citations:
1. Cyprus’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, 2021, https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/com-2021-398-cyprus_factsheet_en.pdf
2. Cyprus petrol price hike to pay for €40 mln eco-fine, Financial Mirror, 31 January 2021, https://www.financialmirror.com/2021/01/31/cyprus-petrol-price-hike-to-pay-for-e40-mln-eco-fine/
3. Activists attacked, threatened with shotgun, bird protection group says, Cyprus Mail, 21 September 2021, https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/09/21/activists-attacked-threatened-with-shotgun-bird-protection-group-says/
4. Ministry defends decision to green light multi-story building in down town Nicosia, Cyprus Mail, 21 December 2021, https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/12/21/ministry-defends-decision-to-green-light-multi-story-building-in-down-town-nicosia/
The environmental issues are absent from the EU post-program surveillance reports. Cyprus’s Recovery and Resilience Plan for 2021 to 2026 mostly focuses on energy issues, although 2020 targets were missed, and to some extent on climate protection. This means that other areas where problems persist do not receive the attention they deserve.
Regulations protecting Natura 2000 areas, both inland and at sea, remain pending, while projects with deficient or no impact assessment threaten these areas. The Akamas peninsula and other sites remain at risk from plans or decisions of the government sidelining environmental protection. Despite water management being a major environmental challenge, authorities have approved several new water-intensive projects (e.g., golf courses). Desalination continues while the reuse of wastewater remains limited. Energy policy is at the heart of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, while fossil fuel exploration continues. The main policies in the Recovery and Resilience Plan consist in introducing green taxation, investing in energy efficiency measures and renewables, and promoting sustainable green mobility. With these policies, Cyprus is expected to benefit from its natural advantages in solar energy, to promote energy efficient buildings, and to shift from the use of private cars to cycling, walking and the use of electric cars. Green taxes may assist in reducing waste generation and improving the efficiency of waste management.
Promotion of green mobility started with subsidies for electric cars and bicycles. However, given substantial infrastructural problems and the limited amount of subsidies available, transport continues to be almost exclusively dominated by private combustion-engine cars.
Given the island’s vulnerability to climate change, Cyprus participated in the eighth Summit of the Southern EU Countries and in the second Eastern Mediterranean Conference on Climate, among other meetings.
It remains to be seen whether initiatives and statements will translate into concrete actions, whether expert warnings will be sufficiently convincing and whether the authorities will comply with existing EU rules. New projects with significant negative effects for ecosystems have been approved. The unruly construction of very high buildings continues in defiance of town planning rules and the limitations they impose. Laws such as the one voted in 2017 leave the door open for the privatization of natural resources.
Political expediency favors financial interests at the expense of environmental protection. Politicians, businesses, and representatives from both public and private institutions persistently press for the relaxation of environmental protection rules. Local and central government authorities continue to highlight the importance of profit to justify decisions damaging the environment.
Citations:
1. Cyprus’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, 2021, https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/com-2021-398-cyprus_factsheet_en.pdf
2. Cyprus petrol price hike to pay for €40 mln eco-fine, Financial Mirror, 31 January 2021, https://www.financialmirror.com/2021/01/31/cyprus-petrol-price-hike-to-pay-for-e40-mln-eco-fine/
3. Activists attacked, threatened with shotgun, bird protection group says, Cyprus Mail, 21 September 2021, https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/09/21/activists-attacked-threatened-with-shotgun-bird-protection-group-says/
4. Ministry defends decision to green light multi-story building in down town Nicosia, Cyprus Mail, 21 December 2021, https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/12/21/ministry-defends-decision-to-green-light-multi-story-building-in-down-town-nicosia/
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To what extent does the government actively contribute to the design and advancement of global environmental protection regimes?
10
9
9
The government actively contributes to international efforts to design and advance global environmental protection regimes. In most cases, it demonstrates commitment to existing regimes, contributes to their being advanced and has introduced appropriate reforms.
8
7
6
7
6
The government contributes to international efforts to strengthen global environmental protection regimes. It demonstrates commitment to existing regimes and occasionally contributes to their being advanced and/or has introduced some appropriate reforms.
5
4
3
4
3
The government demonstrates commitment to existing regimes, but does not contribute to their being advanced and has not introduced appropriate reforms.
2
1
1
The government does not contribute to international efforts to strengthen global environmental protection regimes.
Cyprus has ratified many international conventions and protocols relating to environmental protection, and it participates in numerous international organizations and meetings. However, policies are not proactive and authorities often fail to act efficiently. With the promotion of the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Fund, Cyprus participates in climate and environmental policy meetings with other EU and non-EU countries. Following a 2019 initiative of President Anastasiades concerning cooperation among eastern Mediterranean countries on climate change, a second conference was held in Nicosia in 2021. Given the country’s poor environmental performance, only tangible results could lead to a re-evaluation of Cyprus’s performance.
Citations:
1. 8th Summit of the Southern Countries of the European Union, Declaration, Athens, 17.9.2021, https://www.pio.gov.cy/assets/pdf/newsroom/2021/09/EU%20MED_Declaration_Climate-Environment.pdf
2. PIO, Speech by the President of the Republic, Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, at the 2nd International Conference on Climate Change …, 13 October 2021, https://www.pio.gov.cy/en/press-releases-article.html?id=23318#flat
Citations:
1. 8th Summit of the Southern Countries of the European Union, Declaration, Athens, 17.9.2021, https://www.pio.gov.cy/assets/pdf/newsroom/2021/09/EU%20MED_Declaration_Climate-Environment.pdf
2. PIO, Speech by the President of the Republic, Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, at the 2nd International Conference on Climate Change …, 13 October 2021, https://www.pio.gov.cy/en/press-releases-article.html?id=23318#flat