Limassol, along with Strovolos, Paphos, and Aradippou, is driving efforts towards achieving climate neutrality by 2030. As part of the European initiative promoting 100 climate-neutral and intelligent cities, these municipalities have launched projects that tally over 300, backed by a combined budget surpassing €1 billion.

On Tuesday, Limassol Mayor, Nikos Nikolaides, along with his counterparts from Strovolos and Aradippou, briefed Deputy Minister to the President, Eirini Piki, on the program's trajectory. Nikolaides emphasized the historic significance of this endeavor, highlighting Limassol's commitment to what he termed the "most ambitious European climate change program."

Under this initiative, 100 European cities were chosen through a competitive selection process to pioneer the path to climate neutrality by 2030. Notably, this ambitious target is set two decades ahead of the broader European goal.

The mayors are primed to present their comprehensive Climate Action Plans to the European Commission, detailing their myriad projects and actions aimed at environmental sustainability.

Affirming the national government's support for this eco-initiative, Nikolaides remarked, "This isn't a solitary endeavor. We have the full backing of the President of the Republic and the government." Furthermore, Nikolaides acknowledged the extensive collaboration over the past year with top Cypriot universities and research institutions, culminating in a detailed roadmap for achieving climate neutrality. He then added that the transformational nature of these efforts aims, not just at ecological sustainability but also at fostering more prosperous local communities. The public's understanding and endorsement, he noted, are crucial for the fruition of this vision.

Moreover, when asked about the initiatives' focus, Mr. Nikolaidis unveiled five core areas: energy, buildings, transport, circular economy, and marine conservation. He emphasized that in addition to these, digital policies will also play a crucial role.

The outlined measures consist of various initiatives such as promoting electric vehicles, advancing sustainable urban transport, inaugurating green spaces, enhancing energy efficiency in buildings, and ensuring ships at Cypriot ports use electricity. Nikolaidis emphasized the ultimate goal: “Our measures aim at drastically reducing our carbon footprint and moving decisively towards climate neutrality.”

Mayor Evangelos Evangelidis of Aradippou echoed this sentiment, stating the importance of collaborating with the state for a sustainable future. "Our partnership with the national government is essential for the green transition and to support our communities," Evangelidis said.

Andreas Papacharalambous, Mayor of Strovolos, voiced concerns over past urban planning and the pressing challenges ahead. He expressed gratitude to the Mayor of Limassol for fostering inter-municipal cooperation. Papacharalambous stressed, "With the unwavering support from the Presidency of the Republic, we are optimistic about implementing a myriad of green initiatives in the near future."