Launching event in Cyprus
The Municipalities of Strovolos and Lakatamia in cooperation with the Cyprus Energy Agency, successfully organized a one day event for a) the Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy and b) for informing and engaging stakeholders regarding the URBANPROOF project. The conference took place in Nicosia on 8 December 2016 with invited speakers from Cyprus and abroad.
On behalf of the Commissioner of Environment Mrs. Ioanna Panayiotou, Mr. Xenios Agathakleos delivered the greeting.
The speech of the Director of the Department of Environment Mr. Costa Hatzipanayiotou followed, along with the address by Mr. Theodoulos Mesimeris, Environment Senior Officer.
Distinguished speakers from abroad gave the conference a different dimension, transferring their experiences to the participants who were mainly coming from local authorities.
Mr. David Donner, representing the initiative on Covenant of Mayors presented the new policies for addressing and adapting to climate change and the results of the study on Energy Efficiency Watch.
Mr Theodoros Zachariadis of the Cyprus University of Technology approached and presented the issue of whether Cyprus can achieve the transition to an Energy Efficient and Low-Carbon Economy.
Mr Savvas Vlachos, the acting Director of the Cyprus Energy Agency, presented the experiences and progress of Cyprus Local Authorities in the implementation of Sustainable Energy Action Plans and new challenges for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Ms Anna Pantopiou, Health and Safety Officer, Municipality of Strovolos presented on behalf of the Municipalities of Strovolos and Lakatamia the LIFE URBAN PROOF project. She more specifically presented the aims, the main implementation actions, the green implementation of green infrastructure projects and the importance of engaging stakeholders in the whole implementation of the project.
Mr Harris Kordatos, Cyprus Energy Agency’s officer presented the nature-based solutions for the adaptation to the Climate Change in Cyprus.
Mr Marios Petrakkas, an Energy Expert of the Cyprus Energy Agency presented the “Experiences and challenges for the improvement of energy efficiency in street lighting in Cyprus. The successful example of the 100% street lighting upgrading into LED in the communities of Alona and Polystipos”.
Mr. Kostas Komninos, Director of the Network of Sustainable Aegean Islands and the Ionian, presented best practices and experiences from the implementation of energy action plans in Europe’s Islands and the initiative “Smart Islands”.
The conference concluded with Mrs. Ylva EK from the Energy Office of East Sweden, who presented sustainable energy efficiency practices, waste management and use fo RENEWABLE energy Sources as well as the sustainable mobility implemented in Sweden’s municipalities.
The conference was also supported by the cities network “Energy Cities”, the Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy and the European Project “Beyond Sustainable Energy Strategies”, which is co funded by the EU programme “Intelligent Energy Europe”.
