Address by Stephanos Stefanou, General Secretary of the AKEL at the 3rd Festival of Environment and Culture “Phylloshia”

 

16 September 2023, Agrokipia

Welcome back to the “Phylloshia” Environment and Culture Festival organised jointly by the Environment Bureau of AKEL and the Environmental Movement of Cyprus. This is the 3rd successive Festival in a row, which proves that it has now become a custom. We would like to thank the Local Community Council and the community of Agrokipia for hosting us and for their cooperation in organising the Festival.

When we first organised the Festival three years ago – at that time it was held in the community of Vavatsinia – the primary goal was to support the communities in the area that were affected by the devastating fires of 2021. Today, three years later, the “Phylloshia” Festival is taking place in the Nicosia district, which may not have been affected by catastrophic fires – and we hope that never happens – but is facing other, equally important environmental problems.

Unfortunately, this year too our country has once again been hit by fires with all their devastating consequences. The fires have once again highlighted the need to formulate and pursue a centralised policy for preventing and responding to fires and other natural disasters.

On this occasion, I would sincerely like to take this opportunity to thank from the bottom of our hearts and congratulate the Forestry Department, the forest firefighters and all those who give their best to fight the fires, protecting our land, our forests and all of us. Our gratitude for the difficult work they do is profound and sincere.

Fires, like all natural disasters, remind us that the notion that nature is a machine that we can use as we wish is destructive.

From climate change and pollution to the loss of species of fauna and flora, we have left our imprint on the earth with such force and fury that some things and some balances have been permanently and irrevocably changed.

It is now a fact that more than 3 billion people are affected by the degradation of ecosystems and that pollution is responsible for some 9 million premature deaths every year.

Unfortunately, due to climate change, severe weather incidents, droughts and floods are the new norm. In the Eastern Mediterranean region in particular, the scientific community now takes it for granted that the consequences of climate change will be more severe.

But apart from these general problems, we also have to deal with the specific local issues of environmental degradation and, by extension, our quality of life. Particularly here in the Agrokipia-Mitsero area, the environmental problems are many, as are the challenges. The area is burdened by the operation of industries, quarries and mines. It is for this reason that asphalt plants should not be relocated here.

Dear friends and residents of the area,

We are well aware of your struggles to prevent the implementation of the decision taken by the previous DISY government to install asphalt plants from other areas here in the region. In these struggles AKEL has been with you and we will continue to stand by your side. It is our conviction that we cannot transfer problems from one area and dump them on another.

The asphalt plants must be moved from the Dali area because the residents there are really suffering, but they must not be brought here or moved to another residential area. They should be moved to an area that will not affect anyone’s health. In order to make this possible, we first need, at long last, to elaborate up a comprehensive spatial plan that does not degrade any residential area and does not harm the life and environment of any of our fellow citizens. The responsibility for drawing up such a policy lies with the government, which must swiftly meet this need. We are already hopelessly behind schedule.

Dear friends,

The need to protect the environment has been and remains a key priority for AKEL.

• We insist on the strengthening of state services which in recent years have been degraded with modern and appropriate equipment.
• We insist on strengthening the law on the continuous monitoring of the conditions of the operation of industries.
• We call for the strengthening of the labour inspection department to ensure clean air for all.
• We call for the utilization of the relevant scientific potential of the country to adequately staff all departments dealing with the environment. Instead of filling the President’s office with advisers, undersecretaries and deputy Ministers, the government should proceed with staffing those departments responsible for the environment so that they can cope with the pressing needs. It is a matter of priorities because there is potential.

We know that time is short, especially when it comes to climate change.

We must promote comprehensive policies that will drastically reduce the consequences and at the same time structurally address environmental and social inequality. This can be done; there are already countries that are promoting such policies. We can do it in our country too as long as the government demonstrates the political will to do it. Its role is crucial.

Dear friends,

At critical moments for society and the environment, we cannot exhaust our efforts by issuing statements and making assurances.

Tackling climate change is everyone’s responsibility. We do not have the luxury of time. We need collective action. We need society’s demand for the protection of forests, for a substantial increase in renewable energy production, for the strengthening of public transport, for the practical safeguarding of everyone’s right to a healthy environment.

It is up to us to meet today’s challenges through a sustainable redesign that respects the environment and, above all, people themselves.